Ballard reviews proposed subdivision ordinance updates and developer fee policy

Kendall Welch of Jones & DeMille Engineering presented proposed amendments to Ballard’s subdivision code, Chapter 14.04, at the combined City/Zoning meeting on Feb. 5, 2026, urging updates to align local procedures with recent state requirements.

Welch outlined several substantive changes the draft would make to the plat process. The revisions add a discrete section to the city’s fee schedule and introduce reimbursable‑fee provisions to govern billing among the city, applicants and third parties. The changes also clarify procedures for Simple and Full Boundary Adjustments and spelling out requirements for recording plats with Uintah County.

The proposed consolidated fee schedule was distributed to board members for review. Welch told Engineer Jeff Baker she would obtain comparable costs from other entities to inform local rates. The boards agreed to hold an additional meeting to review and adopt fee changes; no deposit levels or final fee amounts were decided at the Feb. 5 session.

Welch also proposed creating an out‑of‑pocket account that developers would fund to cover third‑party costs. The board discussed the need to determine an appropriate deposit amount and how the city would manage the account; the minutes record that those details were left for future consideration.

Members discussed updating application checklists and forms to reflect the ordinance and fee changes, though the minutes do not record specific checklist edits. The meeting record lists attendees including Mayor Nile Mathisen, Chairman Joe Allred, Engineer Jeff Baker, Public Works Director Ben Mower and secretarial staff; it does not report any formal motions or recorded votes on the ordinance or fee schedule.

The board directed staff and members to review the proposed ordinance text and fee schedule and return with recommendations. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.