Commission recommends denying spot rezone at 1113 W. 150 S after neighbors raise character and safety concerns

The Kaysville City Planning Commission voted on June 11 to recommend denial of a rezone request for 1113 West 150 South, an application from Brian Harris that sought to change the parcel from R‑1‑20 single‑family to R‑4 (one‑ to four‑family) residential.

Staff introduced the application and said the proposal had mixed alignment with the city’s general plan: while some goals encourage a range of housing options, other sections emphasize preserving Kaysville’s small‑town character. Staff noted 67 notices were mailed and that seven online comments — all opposed — and two phone inquiries had been received.

Brian Harris, who spoke to the commission as the property owner, framed the request as a narrowly tailored way to create small units to house family members and caregivers. He said the plan would use less than a third of the site’s buildable area and described one small apartment and a second small unit connected by an internal hall, arguing the design would be modest and compatible. He said his family had thought about this need for 21 years and that his primary goal was to provide housing for their son.

Multiple neighbors testified against the rezone, citing incompatibility with neighborhood character, privacy loss, and traffic and safety concerns at the nearby intersection. Terry Derew, a nearby resident who supported limited ADUs, cited state law encouraging accessory units; by contrast, several neighbors directly adjacent to the parcel urged the commission to preserve the existing low‑density zoning.

Commission discussion focused on two central points: the planning risk of creating a spot rezone in the middle of an established single‑family area, and the fact that forthcoming state ADU rules (effective Oct. 1) and existing internal ADU options could meet much of the applicant’s objective without changing the zoning map. Commissioners repeatedly noted that rezoning a single isolated lot can create precedents that are hard to control. One commissioner said of spot rezonings: "It's not the way to change our zoning map onesie‑twosie by individual request, regardless of how compelling."

After debate, the commission made a motion to recommend denial and, following a second, recorded multiple "aye" votes; the motion passed and the recommendation will be forwarded to the city council for final action.

Because this action is advisory, the final decision will rest with the city council; staff and commissioners noted that the applicant could pursue ADU options consistent with state and local rules without a rezone.