Clearfield delays vote on 60-unit supportive housing site until Nov. 24

What happened

A decision on whether to allow about 60 units of permanent supportive housing on a vacant lot in Clearfield will wait at least two weeks. The City Council voted 3-1 on Nov. 10 to table the rezoning until Nov. 24, after a public hearing in which about 18 people spoke. ^[1][2][4]

The council set a work session on the item for 6 p.m. Nov. 24, with possible action at its 7 p.m. policy session that night. Council Member Megan Ratchford voted no. According to the meeting record, Ratchford preferred to hold the discussion Nov. 24 and vote Dec. 8, which a city official said is the council's last planned policy session of the year. ^[2][4]

The proposal

Ordinance 2026-18 would apply the city's supportive housing overlay to 4.25 acres of a roughly 5-acre parcel at about 1230 East 1450 South, a former church site now zoned C-1 commercial. Valerie Clausen, an interim planner contracting with the city, told the council the overlay allows up to 60 units, roughly 14 per acre, and still requires a site plan review and a development agreement. Clausen said the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval on Oct. 7. ^[1][4]

Davis County is the applicant and has the property under contract. A county representative asked for the delay, saying the county is evaluating whether to limit the project to seniors while keeping 60 units of permanent supportive housing. The representative said the county's application includes one acre of commercial use and that the county would commit more if the housing needs less land. The representative also said proposals from potential development partners and operators are due Nov. 15. ^[2]

Taxes and services

At the council's request, Clausen presented figures on the parcel's taxes and on social services in the county. Clausen said the parcel produces about $25,500 a year in property tax, with roughly $2,900 of that reaching the city at the effective rate, and that taking property off the tax rolls generally shifts the city's levy to other taxable properties. The county representative put the city's share at about $3,000 a year. ^[1][2]

Clausen said a broad, not exhaustive, inventory found 37 social service facilities in Davis County, 12 of them in Clearfield, which has less than a tenth of the county's population. ^[1]

What residents said

Supporters, including a housing advocacy group and a speaker who read a letter of support from the state homeless coordinator, said the site is close to transit, jobs and services. Several neighbors opposed it, citing traffic on 1450 South, safety, the loss of scarce commercial land and future tax revenue, and the number of service facilities already in Clearfield. Some asked the council to table the item until more information was available. ^[1][4]

The public hearing was held and closed Nov. 10, a city official said, so the Nov. 24 meeting will not be another public hearing. Officials said the work session could be broadcast so residents can follow the discussion. ^[2]

Other business

The council also approved Resolution 2026-R25, renewing a five-year stormwater permit agreement with Davis County and other cities, and voted to join the national opioid settlement with Albertsons. A city staff member said Utah will receive $10.7 million from that settlement for its opioid abatement fund and that Clearfield will not receive money directly. ^[2][3][4]