The plans, focus of discussion by Weber County officials and the developer, Nilson Homes, for the past two years or so, are big. The proposal calls for as many as 725 units — single-family homes, townhomes and attached patio homes — spread across an undeveloped 242-acre parcel now used largely for farming.

“This is a 10-plus-year project. It will be a place for people to call home for generations to come,” said Bryan Bales, representing Nilson Homes of South Ogden, the project developer. His hope is to start work on the development, called JDC Ranch, next spring, with townhomes, once complete, priced in the $400,000 range and single-family homes costing around $1 million.

Bales, speaking Tuesday at a public hearing on the plans, said there’s been plenty of negotiating over plan details between the developer and Weber County officials. There have also been significant compromises over the past two years. The land at the center of the debate sits off the north side of 2600 North around 2875 West.

Whatever the case, the talks, apparently, will continue. Weber County commissioners tabled action after Tuesday’s hearing on the rezone and development agreement needed for the project to proceed, divided over the mix of proposed housing. They tentatively said they’d take up the proposal at their Dec. 20 meeting.

Image supplied, Weber County

More specifically, Commissioner Scott Jenkins was thrown by the provision calling for 200 patio homes, which would be contained in 50 four-plexes under the proposal presented Tuesday. Jenkins said he had understood there would only be 100 patio homes and bristled at the 200 figure. The three commissioners tried to hammer together a last-minute compromise before tabling action.

As presented, the plans call for 725 dwellings in all, including up to 125 townhomes, up to 200 patio homes and 400 or so single-family homes. The single-family homes, sitting on larger lots, would be focused on the outer edges of the development zone while the denser townhome and patio home development would be more in the middle.

“This is on the higher end in terms of number of dwelling units that we’ve seen,” said Steven Burton, a Weber County planner. Another large development plan in Harrisville, by comparison, calls for 600 housing units spread over 130.8 acres on the site of the old Ben Lomond Golf Course.

Some 45 acres of the 242-acre JDC Ranch expanse would serve as public open space containing parks, trails, pavilions, pickleball and volleyball courts and more. A portion of the area abutting 2600 North, dubbed Flex Village, would be reserved for commercial development.

County officials envision the area eventually being annexed into Plain City, which borders the northern, western and southern sides of JDC Ranch, or Farr West, on the east side of the development area. “Right now they’re both looking at it but no one’s made the move,” said Jenkins.

A field in northern unincorporated Weber County that's to be turned into a sprawling housing development, photographed Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. Plans call for as many as 725 housing units on the 242-acre expanse near Plain City and Farr West.

A field in northern unincorporated Weber County that's to be turned into a sprawling housing development, photographed Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. Plans call for as many as 725 housing units on the 242-acre expanse near Plain City and Farr West.