Ogden council approves rezoning for 1425 Kingston Drive to allow smaller single‑family lots

Ogden City Council members voted unanimously Feb. 17 to adopt Ordinance 2026-1, rezoning a former church property at 1425 Kingston Drive from an R 110 classification (single‑family, 10,000‑square‑foot minimum lot) to R 18 (single‑family, 8,000‑square‑foot minimum lot).

Planner Barton Brierley told the council the property spans a split zone boundary and that staff and the planning commission recommended the change so the site could be developed as a single‑family subdivision. Brierley said the proposal is conceptual and that a future subdivision application would return to the planning commission for review.

The petitioner, Gary Cannon, described the plan as a single‑family subdivision and said neighbors supported the project at the planning commission. Cannon said the developer would be willing to enter a development agreement to require owner‑occupancy, though staff did not recommend a mandatory owner‑occupancy overlay for this 8,000‑sq.‑ft. lot product because it is more likely to attract homeowners than very small‑lot townhome products.

Residents who spoke at the public hearing were divided. Supporters, including Angel Castillo and Julian Snyder, said the smaller lots would add desirable single‑family options and owner‑occupied housing. Opponents — including several nearby homeowners — said smaller lots would harm neighborhood continuity and amount to “cramming” more houses into the area. A resident, Laura Lewis, asked whether the project would require owner occupancy; staff and the petitioner said no such requirement was in the staff recommendation, but the developer offered to negotiate one.

Concerns about a potential conflict of interest were raised when a resident noted that Rick Southwick, a partner of the applicant, serves on the planning commission. Brierley and other witnesses said Southwick recused himself from the planning commission discussion and vote on this matter and removed himself from the room in accordance with commission rules.

Council member Lindell moved to adopt the ordinance; Vice Chair Graff seconded. The council conducted a roll‑call vote; members who answered the roll call recorded affirmative votes and the chair declared the motion unanimous. Council members congratulated the developer and wished the project success. The adopted rezoning means any formal subdivision and site plan will return to the planning commission and city staff for the required approvals and any development agreements.

Details: the transmittal and staff presentation identified the zoning change (10,000‑sq.‑ft. minimum to 8,000‑sq.‑ft. minimum) and showed a conceptual layout; the petitioner estimated finished houses would likely be priced in the neighborhood of $650,000, and the developer said the current split zoning constrained a single‑site plan. The exact count of final lots was not fixed in the hearing — the petitioner said it might yield one or two additional lots depending on final layout — and the subdivision plan will provide precise lot counts and design standards.