Council asks planners to study 'hospital zone' and staff outlines Utah Trail Corridor plans

The council has asked the planning commission to study creating a hospital district (a 'hospital zone') for the Arvalley area that would clarify where medical and hospital‑related uses are permitted and whether the zone should be expanded in phases.

An unidentified staff speaker described the shaded study area as roughly between 1st North, Center Street, Wayne Street and 1st East and said hospital leadership owns many properties in and around the block. Commissioners suggested inviting a hospital representative (identified in the discussion as 'Brandon') to present the hospital’s long‑range vision so the commission can align permitted uses with that plan.

Staff stressed the need to define what the hospital zone should allow — for example, whether dental and chiropractic offices would be included — and warned that broad zoning language could either steer medical uses into a single zone or allow them across multiple zones, depending on the code language chosen.

Separately, staff described ongoing state work and a grant to identify a Utah Trail Corridor (UTC) that would link trails from St. George to Logan and connect locally to the River Walk Trail and nearby parks. A KMZ file was provided to commissioners to illustrate the proposed alignment and design elements; staff noted the corridor would support multiuse nonmotorized travel (walkers, cyclists, e‑bikes).

Next steps: planning staff will coordinate with hospital representatives and return with recommendations for a hospital‑zone map and draft code language; staff will also continue work on the UTC alignment and follow grant requirements during design and outreach.