OGDEN — The Ogden City Council voted Tuesday in favor of rezoning the former Rite Aid block located between Monroe Boulevard and Quincy Avenue at 24th and 25th streets from a neighborhood commercial zone to a mixed-use zone. The rezone comes as a necessary step in the proposed development of the Capitol Square project, which envisions creation of a live-work space.

Community and Economic Development Senior Planner Barton Brierley presented unfinished business with council members on Tuesday after requests to rezone and approval of a zone text amendment defining a live-work space was tabled on Dec. 7, pending further clarification from the CED department.

Two concepts for the Capitol Square development were introduced to the City Council on Nov. 23 by Ogden Planning Manager Greg Montgomery, one of which included a grocery store.

A hybrid-concept master plan for the development was brought before the council after CED determined an issue with accessibility on the south end of the property in one concept: Left turns coming from Gramercy Avenue onto 25th Street and left turns coming out of proposed Capitol Square apartments on the corner of 25th Street and Quincy Avenue would create a traffic conflict for drivers.

With the driveway in that concept needing to be relocated, CED chose not to proceed. Instead, they have opted for a hybrid concept combining characteristics of both options.

The Planning Commission as well as the City Council have stressed the importance of having a grocery store in the plans for Capitol Square. Combining parts from both concepts not only allows for the grocery store option, but also fixes the traffic conflict on 25th Street.

“Basically, it has the shirt of one option and the pants of another,” Brierley said in his presentation to council members.

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