City Recorder Annette Spendlove said Janice Christiansen, Steven Huntsman, Julie Andersen, Brent Chugg, and Sean Casey submitted applications for the Mayor seat.  The applicants will be interviewed on Jan. 8 and the council will vote to appoint the new mayor. Councilwoman Cheryl Stoker will act as Mayor pro tempore in the interviews since Mayor Brent Chugg will be one of the interviewees.

More discussion on Form Based Code

It is becoming more urgent for the council to decide if the city will adopt form based code. City Attorney Jon Call said an O’Reilly’s Auto Parts submitted an application to build on the parcel of land behind Walgreens and America First Credit Union.  He said this parcel would be an optimal place to build structures following form based code if the city decides to adopt it. He said there is talk of other businesses coming in and if they add more buildings in this area they might not be able to follow form based code later on.

The code would specify standards that would create a more walkable downtown comparable to Ogden. Call said, if adopted, form based code will be centered on the commercial corridor on Washington and 2600.  Stone masonry buildings would be built 10 ft. away from the sidewalk, parking would be behind the buildings, and benches and blossoming cherry trees would be out front on the sidewalk. Councilman Carl Turner wants it and he thinks it’s a great idea. Randy Win said, “I’m not so sure that we’d get people to fill those shops and I think we would be restricting business that would come.”

Slowing the traffic down is really important in making this successful said Associate Planner Brandon Bell. “We don’t want people being worried about getting side swiped when they cross the street. If you want the form based code to be successful, slowing down the speed limit is essential.”  Call said the speed limit in Ogden is 35 mph. Traffic moves through quite well even with traffic lights at every intersection.  Stoker said an elected official is willing to support the idea to drop the speed limit from 1700 N northward on Washington Blvd.