Council approves Mount Lewis plan amendment and rezoning with 10-year owner-occupancy condition

The council voted Oct. 21 to amend the Mount Lewis community plan and to rezone two parcels at 1514 North Washington Boulevard from R2 to R2S, allowing single- and two-family ownership townhomes and increased development capacity. Planning manager Barton Briarley summarized the proposal and said the planning commission recommended approval with a conditional overlay and a development agreement that would guarantee owner-occupancy of the townhomes for 10 years.

Briarley told the council the change would match surrounding multifamily and townhome character and avoid isolating neighborhoods that would result from a different single-family pattern. Rick Skadden, representing Cooperstown Partners (the property owner), said the project has been under development for six years and that drawings were conceptual at this stage. The petitioner noted adjacent commercial uses and proposed mixed amenities shared across the two properties.

Councilmember Myers moved to adopt ordinance 2025-30 (community plan amendment) and later to adopt ordinance 2025-31 (rezoning to R-2S with conditional overlay). Roll-call votes recorded unanimous "aye" on both measures. Council discussion noted this is the second local project using a 10-year owner-occupancy condition (previously used on a Seventh Street project) and acknowledged coordination needs with North Ogden on utilities and road access.

Council thanked the petitioner for persistence and noted the rezoning is intended to produce for-sale housing opportunities compatible with the area. The ordinances passed and staff will proceed with the standard development-review process and the conditional overlay.