Willard council adopts ordinance rezoning about 160 acres for industrial park; effective on developer closing

The Willard City Council on March 20 adopted Ordinance 25‑07 to rezone about 160 acres near 1500 North and 600 West from agricultural (A‑5) to industrial. The council completed a roll‑call vote after a presentation from the applicant and brief council questions.

Greg Nelson of Willardman Partners, representing the applicant, told the council the rezoning is intended to make the site marketable to large industrial or distribution users and said the company has no plans to allow hazardous or nuclear waste or slaughterhouse operations; he said the developer would note those exclusions if the council wished. Nelson said the group has worked with city staff and the planning commission for several years and that infrastructure funding — including “several millions” set aside for water and road improvements — is in place and that state financing tools may be used for broader upgrades.

Mayor (unnamed) and councilmembers questioned whether the rezoning aligned with the city’s future land‑use map, whether utilities and access were secured and if fire flows would be adequate. Staff confirmed property‑owner notices were sent to parcels within a quarter‑mile and that the developer reported closing on a front parcel that secured access. City engineering staff warned that fire flows may require upsizing piping and running additional water mains to meet sprinkler requirements for certain industrial users; the applicant responded it has factored infrastructure costs into its plan and expects to coordinate with the city on financing and phasing.

Council members pressed for clarity on the rezoning’s effective date. The applicant asked that the ordinance be made effective upon close of the first Fairview parcel; council discussed making the rezoning effective on the closing date rather than contingent on future events. After motion and second, the council held a roll‑call vote. The mayor called the roll; members recorded their votes as: Jake — Yes; Conrad — Yes; Mike — Yes; Rex — Yes; Jordan — Yes. The presiding officer announced the motion carried and Ordinance 25‑07 adopted; staff said the ordinance will become effective on the day the first Fairview parcel closes (the applicant had estimated a closing around Sept. 30 but said it would proceed as soon as possible).

What happens next: the rezoning formally allows industrial uses under the municipal code and gives the developer the ability to market the site; specific projects, site plans and any conditional use or building permits must return to planning staff or the commission for review and are subject to standard subdivision and infrastructure requirements. The council repeatedly said it would hold the developer accountable to infrastructure commitments and that future site‑specific proposals would be reviewed for traffic, water and open‑space impacts.