Planning commission backs recommendation for 6 deed-restricted workforce units at 41 West Main

The Midway Planning Commission voted to recommend that the city enter into a legislative development agreement (LDA) to allow completion of six deed‑restricted workforce units at 41 West Main Street, a mixed-use building currently plumbed for six residential units but limited by current code to a single dwelling unit per parcel.

Staff described the core concession: "What they're asking for is the 6 units to be completed, and that is a concession from the city side," and said the most significant city concession is the added density (effectively five additional dwelling units on the parcel). Other incentives in the staff-drafted agreement include waivers or forgiveness of certain plan-review and inspection fees, and assignment of the city's municipal & industrial (M&I) water lease so the developer need not buy expensive water shares up front.

Under the proposed LDA the six units would be deed-restricted for 30 years, with additional incentives if the owner extends affordability to 40 years. Staff described the proposed target as roughly 60–65% of area median income (AMI) for Wasatch County and said rents would be tied annually to AMI adjustments and limited such that housing costs remain at or below 30% of tenant income. Mountainlands Housing or a similar nonprofit was discussed as a third-party compliance monitor; staff said the developer would be expected to pay monitoring costs.

Commissioners pressed staff on parking, pro‑forma transparency, occupancy limits, and enforcement. Applicant representative Andy Jenkins told the commission the units respond to pressing local workforce demand: "Within close to an hour, there were, like, 50 people that had come in and asked for the apartment," citing prior informal demand when a single unit was marketed. Commissioners amended the motion to ask staff to research building-code-based occupancy limits and then voted to recommend approval; the recommendation goes to the city council for final action.

Next steps: the planning commission's recommendation will be transmitted to the Midway City Council for final consideration and any additional noticing or conditions requested by council.