4th Street Park expansion
Planned expansion of 4th Street Park with competition-level athletic fields, supported by city property purchases nearby. A zone change application and final site plan are still to come.
- Where it stands
- Approved
- Type
- Public project
- Location
- 4th Street Park, Ogden
- Applicant
- City of Ogden
Every hearing and vote
August 4, 2026 · City Council
O-1 Open Space Zone text amendment
Discussed
Planning Director Barton Brierley presented a text amendment driven by planning for the 4th Street Park expansion. It would cut the front setback from 30 feet to 15 feet and equalize and modestly reduce side and rear setbacks, applying only to park property. It also sets fence rules: a 4-foot solid or 6-foot see-through maximum in front and street-facing yards, 7 feet on sides and rear, with dark open-mesh ball-containment netting allowed above 7 feet. The Planning Commission recommended adoption. Council Member Jeremy Peterson asked about notice to owners and a site plan; Brierley said owners were notified and a zone change application for the park would follow. Council Member Ken Richey asked why the old setbacks were so large, and Washington asked for a map of O-1 land. Chair Richard Hyer asked that the separate full zoning rewrite not alter policies unintentionally. No action was taken.
August 11, 2026 · City Council
Rezone of 497 Grant Ave., 605 Grant Ave. and 253 4th St. to O-1 Open Space
Discussed
Planning Director Barton Brierley presented a proposal to rezone three city-owned properties, the former Lynn Elementary site at 605 Grant Avenue and two houses at 497 Grant Avenue and 253 4th Street, from R-1-6 Single Family Residential to O-1 Open Space to allow park expansion. The houses could stay in residential use until park plans advance. The Planning Commission recommended approval; a few speakers at its hearing raised mature-tree preservation. Council Member Flor Lopez said nearby residents had raised noise and other concerns, Council Member Alicia Washington asked whether housing on the school site was studied (staff said it was considered but the park was preferred), and Council Member Kevin Lundell noted a recently bought adjacent lot was not included. A Council vote was scheduled for September 1.
- Applicant: City of Ogden
- Current zone → proposed: R-1-6 → O-1 Open Space
- Planning Commission: recommended adoption
August 18, 2026 · City Council
Ordinance 2026-16: O-1 Open Space zone setback and fence height standards
Approved · 7-0
The ordinance revises the O-1 zone because of the 4th Street ballpark expansion. Planning Director Barton Brierley said existing front, side and rear setbacks suit single-block parks poorly, so minimum setbacks are standardized and reduced for dugouts, restrooms and parking. Street-facing fences are capped at 4 feet, or 6 feet if see-through, side and rear fences at 7 feet, and transparent mesh ballfield netting may exceed those heights. The Planning Commission recommended adoption. Laura Lewis, the only speaker, asked about effects of netting on birds and wildlife; Brierley said he knew of no studies.
- Applicant: City administration
- Front setback: 30 ft → 15 ft (per work session briefing)
- Planning Commission: recommended adoption
September 1, 2026 · City Council
Ordinance 2026-17: rezone 497 and 605 Grant Ave. and 253 4th St. from R-1-6 to O-1 Open Space
Approved · 5-2
The ordinance reclassifies about seven acres of city-owned land, mostly the former Lynn Elementary site plus two adjacent houses, to the same open space zone as the existing 4th Street ballpark, for its expansion. Planning Director Barton Brierley said it fits the general plan and the Planning Commission recommended approval. Council Member Alicia Washington asked about the age of the Lynn community plan (minor amendments since 2007), the lack of a detailed housing study for the 5.87-acre school parcel, and the projected $33.5 million cost of the full expansion. Public Services staff said the east house is vacant and planned for demolition while the north house is rented and not in the next phase. Two residents spoke: Leslie Stock raised demolition of old buildings and trees, and Laura Lewis asked about notice and parking. Council Member Richey and Chair Hyer cited youth sports, tournaments, and public input at purchase favoring a park over housing. Council Member Kevin Lundell moved to remove 253 4th St. from the ordinance, seconded by Washington; it failed 2-5. The ordinance then passed 5-2. Washington cited limited constituent input favoring the expansion, future costs and no housing studies; Lundell said the occupied house could have been handled separately and urged more transparency.
- Applicant: City of Ogden
- Acres: about 7
- Current zone → proposed: R-1-6 → O-1 Open Space
- Planning Commission: recommended approval
- Amendment to remove 253 4th St.: failed 2-5 (yes: Lundell, Washington)