Planning commission recommends rezoning of 40.29 acres on Hargis Hill Road to half-acre residential

The Willard City Planning Commission on April 2 voted to recommend that the City Council rezone roughly 40.29 acres at approximately 1561 North Hargis Hill Road from a 5-acre agricultural designation to an R-1 one-half-acre residential zone.

At the start of the public hearing, city staff (Maddie) told the commission the item on the table was strictly a rezone and that any future subdivision, road layout or site plan would require separate applications, additional public notice, engineering review and ALUWA approval. That clarification framed the public comments and commission discussion.

Lacey Richards, representing Nelson Homes, said the applicant submitted a concept plan consistent with the city's future land use map and that the current request reflects a smaller, half-acre lot pattern than a prior, larger proposal submitted about six years ago. "We're presenting a concept that's in line with that designation," Richards said, and added the concept plan is illustrative only.

Two nearby residents spoke. Larry Holmes, who gave his address as 1561 Hargis Hill Road, said historical documents and mapping show a 20-foot roadway across the property and warned the developer's concept map appeared to relocate or remove that public roadway and could place an existing sewer line under private lots. Holmes said he had documentation dating to the early 1900s supporting the right-of-way.

Jeff Wells, a north Willard resident, asked the commission to consider water-system capacity and reported low pressure in parts of northern Willard, requesting that city engineers assess infrastructure before adding roughly 40 homes. Both concerns were acknowledged by the applicant; Richards said engineering will address utilities and road alignment during later review.

Commissioners discussed the rezoning in light of the city's general plan, with several members saying the one-half-acre density matched the plan and was preferable to previously proposed higher-density schemes. Following that discussion a commissioner moved to recommend approval to the City Council and the motion carried by voice vote.

The commission recorded that the rezoning recommendation will be scheduled for the Willard City Council meeting on April 23 for final consideration.

Why it matters: The recommendation, if approved by the City Council, would change allowable density and precondition future subdivision design. Residents raised infrastructure and right-of-way concerns that would be resolved at subsequent engineering and platting stages rather than in the rezone decision itself.