PLEASANT VIEW — The city recently denied a request for zoning changes that could have opened the door to high-density housing developments.
The most recent request was a rezone of the property located at approximately 575 W. 2700 North. John Hanson sought the zone change from residential for the purpose of creating a mixed-use/multi-family project. The two parcels of land included in the request amount to approximately 13.5 acres.
In one plan presented to the Planning Commission, the development would include a corner of the property at 600 W. and 2700 North being left aside for future commercial development, said Community Development Director Bruce Talbot.
“This is 144 units total including townhouses and apartments. Approval on zoning and then site plan approval would be needed,” Talbot said.
Talbot also said the city would not consider any zoning changes unless someone has a plan for the property in question. One area of concern is a road between 2550 North and 2700 North that does not yet exist but is part of Pleasant View’s general plan for the future. He said this is one of only three places the Utah Department of Transportation will allow access in the future.
He said in addition to the proposed 144 units, there was also an alternate proposal for 216 apartment units. There would be some open space with a roadway around it, according to the plan submitted to the city, but there is no hope for the future developments without a zoning change.
Talbot said the apartments would include one-, two- and three-bedroom units.
A public hearing was held concerning the zoning change and possible high-density housing, and many individuals from the community made their opinions known.
Resident James Reeves asked if the future development, which would be near his home, would be used for subsidized or low-income housing.
“If it is, it will change the look and feel of the area we have out here. People move out here for reasons,” Reeves said. “Subsidized housing could bring in a group of people that would make it not as nice as it used to be.”
He asked what kind of people Pleasant View would then have as well as what kind of home values. He said he would be concerned with 216 units, plus tenants’ vehicles, all on 13 acres.
“Renters are only going to be here a short time, then they move on,” Reeves said.
Developer Mark Koehler told residents there was no plan to use the project for subsidized or low-income housing. He said the development would include a berm and trees.
Fred Brown, who lives near the proposed high-density housing area, but in North Ogden, said he was afraid his property value would be impacted and also was worried about student-to-teacher ratio in the area with so many more children living there.
Hansen, who had requested the zoning change, said they were leaving room for big-box development. He said Pleasant View currently does not have the roof tops needed to support the commercial development the community is hoping for.
City Administrator Melinda Brimhall, who asked to speak as a resident, said she lives near the area proposed for a zoning change and that not every renter brings a negative aspect to a community. She said Pleasant View needs to look at this type of housing and that, for her, it would be a way to keep her aging parents living near her.
“As a property owner, I don’t have any issues with this,” Brimhall said.
Councilman Toby Mileski said 54,000 people are living in Pleasant View and neighboring communities and that they are affluent people.
“Developers missed the boat saying we do not have enough people to support commercial. We’ve got homes and we’ve got people,” Mileski said.
Mayor Doug Clifford said apartments are now being occupied by people who may have purchased an entry-
level home in the past, and said if commercial development and the rooftops to go with it are not brought into Pleasant View, then the city is headed to a tax increase.
Council members voted unanimously to deny the zoning change.
A similar zoning change request a few weeks earlier for property located at 2255 North and U.S. 89 met a similar fate. That zoning request, which was asking for commercial to change to mixed use for the purpose of creating a multi-family project, was voted down by council members as well.
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