Powder Mountain Rezone Request Approved - Standard Examiner Article

Ogden Valley commission OKs rezone

Powder Mountain developers must meet 15 conditions
B Y MARSHALL THOMPSON
Standard-Examiner staff mthompson@standard.net


   OGDEN - The Ogden Valley Planning Commission voted Monday to approve a rezone application for Powder Mountain Resort - but only after setting 15 conditions and capping density at current levels.
   Five commissioners voted for the rezone, and two did not vote. Jim Banks was absent, and Jamie Lythgoe abstained.
   Several Ogden Valley residents had complained that Lythgoe had a conflict of interest because her family, the Cobabes, originally owned the resort and retained 213 acres within Powder Mountain boundaries.
   On Monday, Scott Mendoza, a county planner, reported that Powder Mountain developers included the Cobabe's 213 acres in density calculations. Although the rezone wouldn't change their property, it would include road access to the otherwise inaccessible parcel of mountain land.
   Lythgoe's aunt, Aleta Cobabe, spoke at the public hearing and asked commissioners to remember their road access while discussing the conditions for approval. Lythgoe had refused to recuse herself in the past, but decided to abstain Monday.
   "I just didn't want to cloud the issue," she said.
   The 15 conditions for approval included building a permanent secondary access road once the development reaches 895 units on the Weber County side, eliminating one 18-hole golf course and capping total development at 1,218 units.
   Powder Mountain develop- ers Western America Holdings LLC originally asked for zoning that would allow for 805 single-family homes, 2,090 multiple-family units, 500 hotel rooms, 11 corporate retreats, a 60,000-square-foot recreation center, a 40,000-square-foot equestrian center, a 40,000-square-foot air station, three lodges, two 18-hole golf courses and a fire station.
   "We appreciate tonight's ‘yes' vote, which represents two years of a healthy and vigorous public process," said Lisa Davis James, a Powder Mountain spokeswoman.
   She said she'd discuss the density cap with resort owners.
   Commissioner William Siegel said he wanted to vote against the rezone, but realized if the Ogden Valley Planning Commission voted it down, the proposal would just go to the Weber County Commission, which often votes differently.
   "Denying this would be just liking punting the ball into their side of the field," he said.
   He said the best option was to approve the rezone with stiff conditions, although the County Commission can still remove any requirements.
   A second permanent road is a hurdle Powder Mountain developers have yet to figure out.
   Brooke Hontz, a project manager for the resort, said they do not have definite plans on where the road would run. One likely option going to the east runs through Vista, a private conservation easement.
   The owners of the area have stated at several public hearing that they will not allow a road. Vista has a pending lawsuit against Western America Holdings concerning the ability to develop the area.
   The other option is to build a road north into Cache Valley, but Cache commissioners have said they will not allow it. Hontz said Powder Mountain will not push or ask for Cache to build the road.
   Weber County planning staff will now solidify the wording of the conditions. The proposal will go before the Weber County Commission sometime next year.