Riverdale council approves land-use changes to clear way for CarMax dealership at 671 W 4400 S

The Riverdale City Council on April 7 approved a series of coordinated land-use actions to allow a CarMax used-car dealership at 671 West 4400 South, including a general-plan amendment, a rezoning from R-4 (multifamily) to C-3 (commercial), and a development-agreement framework that requires the company to secure development permits within 36 months or forfeit the rezoning rights.

Brandon Cooper, the city’s community-development director, told the council that staff’s analysis showed the parcel is bordered on three sides by commercial C-3 zoning and that the CarMax site concept is contiguous with existing commercial uses. “Based on our findings, the proposal is consistent with Utah State code, concentrates commercial development in the main corridor, and supports our ongoing financial goals,” Cooper said.

Kristen Cowan, the consultant representing CarMax, described the company’s operations and local benefits. Paul Thomas, CarMax’s real-estate manager, said the company estimates roughly 100–110 vehicle sales per month at the Riverdale location, an average sale price near $26,000, and local hiring of about 20 associates. “We would not be comfortable being tied to performance obligations,” Thomas said, noting the sales and hiring figures are estimates from their modeling team.

Several councilors and residents raised housing-policy concerns and asked whether converting the site would undermine moderate-income-housing goals. Cooper responded the city still has significant residential capacity elsewhere and that the CarMax option produces higher sales-tax revenue per acre and lower peak trip generation in some hours compared with previously approved multifamily proposals.

Councilor Alan Arnold moved to amend the general plan from attached residential to commercial (Resolution 2026-10); after discussion the council adopted the amendment and then approved Ordinance 1004 to rezone the property to C-3. The council also approved Resolution 2026-11, which implements a development agreement requiring CarMax to obtain development permits within 36 months. The council added direction for staff to include property-maintenance requirements to reduce blight and protect adjacent neighborhoods while the site is in interim ownership.

The staff-proposed development agreement preserves review authority for final site-plan elements, utilities and landscaping; site-plan review and a subsequent development-agreement negotiation will govern the detailed design, access, and landscaping that CarMax must meet before building permits are issued.

What’s next: CarMax representatives told the council they expect to close the acquisition after site-plan finalization and aim to pull development permits within the 36-month window, with a typical construction schedule of about 13 months once permits are pulled. The council’s action sets findings of fact in the public record to support the rezoning and agreement.