Logan council denies 5-acre west side rezone for 100 townhomes, 3-1

The Logan Municipal Council voted 3-1 on Oct. 6 to deny Ordinance 26-17, a request to rezone 5.08 acres near 1200 West and 200 South in the Ellis Neighborhood from Commercial to Mixed Residential High (MR20), according to the meeting minutes. Council Member Melissa Dahle voted no on the denial, Council Member Katie Lee-Koven was excused, and Chair Mike Johnson, Vice Chair Ernesto López and Council Member Jeannie Simmonds voted to deny. ^[1][2]

The plan called for about 100 townhomes. Planner Aaron Smith said city staff recommended denial because the request does not comply with the city's recently adopted Future Land Use Plan, which designates the site for commercial use. The Planning Commission had recommended approval 4-2. ^[2]

Danny MacFarlane, speaking for the ownership group, said the change would be a voluntary down-zone from the 30 residential units per acre allowed under commercial standards to 20 units per acre. He cited 304 parking spaces, 25% usable open space and for-sale townhomes meant to expand homeownership. Jaxon Didericksen, who lives on 200 South across from the site, spoke in favor and said he preferred residential neighbors to commercial ones. ^[2]

Council members said few parcels on the west side remain designated for commercial use. Simmonds said approving high-density housing without nearby services forces residents to drive for groceries and basic needs. López said the council should decide whether to protect the land for commercial use. Dahle said the Amber Fields neighbors she spoke with preferred housing and families over commercial development. ^[2]

City Attorney Craig Carlston advised that because the application covered the whole parcel, the council could not approve only part of it. Smith said the townhomes' minimum side setback of 8 feet would sit beside a commercial building with a setback Smith estimated at about 10 feet. ^[2]

After the vote Johnson said the city is revising its residential zoning ordinances and that he would prefer to see that direction before approving a rezone of this scale. ^[2]