South Ogden Council to Vote on 61-Acre City Center Plan and Permit Freeze

South Ogden leaders are preparing to ask the city council to adopt two ordinances that would integrate a 61-acre city-center master plan into the municipality’s overall development framework and temporarily suspend permit processing in the designated zone. The plan, stretching along Washington Boulevard from 36th to 40th Street, was sparked by the shutdown of a Big Lots store owned by Gordon Brothers and aims to create a walkable mixed-use hub featuring an outdoor plaza, a pedestrian-priority corridor on Kiesel Avenue, up to 1,000 residential units, 380,000 square feet of commercial space and 75,000 square feet of office space.

Officials expect private developers to lead construction, with the city possibly offering incentives, while emphasizing that eminent domain will not be used. Public input gathered at an August 13 hearing highlighted worries about traffic, parking, property size requirements, funding and the risk of displacing existing businesses and residents. City staff have noted these issues and will consider them as the plan moves forward. The council’s decision this Tuesday will determine whether the moratorium and plan integration proceed.