Bountiful council signals informal OK for land swap to aid library renovation

Bountiful — City staff on Tuesday briefed the Bountiful City Council on a proposed land swap with Davis County tied to a planned renovation of the Davis County Bountiful branch library, and council members gave informal direction for the county to begin drafting documents.

Gary Hill, a city staff presenter, said county officials decided to renovate the existing library rather than build a new branch because ‘‘they felt like they would have more square footage, by renovating the existing [building] for the dollars than they would by trying to build a new [one],’’ and that architects identified site circulation and a diagonally placed crosswalk on Main Street as major constraints. Lloyd, a planning/engineering staff member, told the council that the Utah Transit Authority’s proposed bus rapid transit line on Main Street would place a stop along the library frontage and that moving the crosswalk and closing a separate driveway would ‘‘remove one more set of conflict points’’ and improve future bus and pedestrian circulation.

The county has asked whether it could use city-owned land south of the library to adjust the building footprint; Hill said the idea under discussion is a property trade that would result in the city owning some parcels west of the senior center while the county would retain the library parcel. Hill said county commissioners have reviewed the concept but will not take formal action until an interlocal agreement is prepared.

Council members asked practical questions about site features. One member asked whether the illustration in the council packet shows a book drop on the east side of the building; Hill said the designers ‘‘intend to move the book drop off to the east side’’ but cautioned the drawing is conceptual. Another member raised concerns about the ballot drop box, noting the library has been a historic ballot-drop location; Hill said he would ‘‘mention that that’s a priority’’ so the county considers voter access in circulation plans. A council member also urged staff and the county to consider camera placement and security after noting recent ‘‘changes in state law’’ on continuous surveillance of ballot boxes.

Members discussed parking and access. Staff said the parking west of the senior center is currently on the county parcel and that the county intends to keep it as senior-center parking even if the city assumes ownership. Council members said they wanted to preserve trail access along the creek corridor and requested a trail easement be included in any interlocal agreement.

Hill asked the council for an informal go-ahead so the county could draft land-swap documents; members indicated assent by nods and ‘‘thumbs up.’’ Hill said staff will pass along council feedback and keep the council informed. No formal motion or recorded vote took place during the work session.

What happens next: Staff said the county will draft an interlocal agreement for review; council members requested that the county’s drawings reflect priorities on voter access, trail easements and parking use.