West Valley City Council continues rezoning request for 2720 South to allow a development agreement

West Valley City Council on Nov. 25 continued consideration of a request to change a property at 2720 South from rural residential to light manufacturing so the owner can operate a trucking yard and parking area. Council members directed staff to prepare a development agreement and set the matter for a Dec. 9 public hearing.

The request, filed by Eloy Santana Perez, would amend the general plan and rezone the parcel to allow light industrial uses. Property owner Perla Santana, who spoke with her husband Eloy at the meeting, said the family agreed to sell a small portion of the parcel to the city in connection with a stormwater project and asked the council for flexibility so they could reactivate a trucking business. "As we plan to reactivate our trucking business next year, we would deeply appreciate some sort of temporary parking pass," Perla Santana said.

Neighbor Daniel Terry urged the council to permit the rezoning, saying the property already functions as a commercial site and that approving the change would allow the owner to comply with current law. "He's trying to comply, and let the business go on," Terry said.

City staff explained the property lies within a larger area designated rural residential in the general plan and noted the planning commission recommended denial. Staff advised that the city does not currently plan to purchase the remainder of the parcel but confirmed it had previously acquired a small northern portion for stormwater infrastructure. Planner Steve (city staff) told council members the property could remain a single-family residence as a nonconforming use if people continued to live there, but that light manufacturing would not ordinarily allow new housing.

Council members debated whether approving a spot rezoning would undermine the general plan and whether a development agreement could impose appropriate conditions. Council Member (name stated in the record) argued for denying rezones that create isolated manufacturing pockets within agricultural land; others said the surrounding context and existing equipment yard made the request more reasonable.

A motion to continue the general-plan amendment (Ordinance 25-36) to Dec. 9 passed by majority; the separate motion to continue the zoning-change ordinance (Ordinance 25-37) and direct staff to draft a development agreement carried unanimously. The continuances keep final action off the Nov. 25 agenda and give staff time to prepare the development agreement requested by council.

Next steps: the council will consider the proposed development agreement alongside the zoning request at the Dec. 9 council meeting. The planning commission's recommendation to deny and staff's prior advice remain part of the public record.