Clinton council approves revised Nelson Homes development agreement after public input

Clinton’s City Council unanimously approved a revised development agreement on Oct. 7 that will allow Nelson Homes to build a 34.9-acre subdivision in western Clinton, replacing an earlier Foothill Ditch/Trail Point agreement.

The motion, read by the mayor, authorized Nelson Homes’ request to repeal and replace the existing development agreement for land described in the motion as approximately 2088 North 4500 West. After a brief public comment period and presentations by Nelson Homes and city staff, the council moved and seconded the measure; the roll call vote passed unanimously.

Nelson Homes’ representative, Lacey Richards, told the council the revised layout “reduces the number of townhomes by 76” while retaining 75 single-family homes and rearranging open space and street patterns to create view corridors and a more community-oriented design. Richards said the developer will include deed restrictions on half the units to require owner occupancy and prevent leasing of those homes for a 10-year period.

City planner Peter reviewed edits to the draft agreement and supporting exhibits, including a change to the fence specification along the trail and canal, and detailed infrastructure terms. Peter said the city estimates the project will require a 12-inch off-site sewer line routed under the planned West Davis Corridor and across portions of adjacent property toward the existing sewer lift station. He said the draft agreement anticipates that Nelson Homes would install the line and be reimbursed over time from impact fees collected from developments that benefit from the new main.

Council members pressed for clarity on several specifics. One member asked whether the exhibit language that had previously referenced vinyl fencing would be adjusted; Richards agreed the exhibit and agreement would be updated to show a chain-link fence with an 18-inch concrete mow strip between the trail and the Hooper Canal, while the fence between the trail and housing would remain at the developer’s discretion (typically white vinyl). On parking, Richards said the project provides 53 off-street guest parking stalls in addition to individual home garages and driveways and that the plan disallows tandem garage spaces to meet the required parking standard.

The council and developer also confirmed several standards that will remain in the agreement or were added during negotiations: a 10-year deed restriction limiting rentals so no more than 50% of units may be leased, a minimum 10-foot backyard setback in some locations to provide design flexibility, and a cap that one-car garages may not exceed 10% of the project, with supplemental parking required for those homes.

Members of the public addressed the council before the vote. Resident Michael Dyer urged the city to consider selling a nearby undeveloped parcel rather than using it for a parking lot, arguing homes would increase tax revenue and public safety; he said, “We would strongly recommend selling the property.” Hannah Cleavey urged the developer and city to incorporate more ADA-accessible playground equipment into the proposed park and suggested using RAP tax dollars to help pay for those features. Several residents present welcomed Nelson Homes’ responsiveness to prior feedback but raised ongoing traffic concerns.

Developer Jed Nelson thanked the council and staff for what he described as a collaborative process and said the company’s stated goal is to “improve lives by creating community.”

The council’s vote approved the development agreement changes as presented. The transcript records the motion and unanimous vote tally but does not map each recorded roll-call affirmative to a named council member in the public record of the meeting. The meeting adjourned after the vote.

What happens next: the approved development agreement and its exhibits will govern the project’s entitlement period and set the requirements described above (deed restrictions, fence and park specifications, parking standards, and the sewer-line reimbursement framework). The city and developer indicated they will continue to refine the park design with staff and the RAP tax committee and will update exhibits in the final agreement.