BY BRANDON BELL, NORTH OGDEN CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

A central purpose of the planning department is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the North Ogden citizens. The North Ogden City Planning Department employees act with this purpose in mind. The planning department also works with citizens to help them exercise their rights as landowners. While doing this, members of the planning department must ensure that the rights of all the residents are not unreasonably infringed upon as contemplated in the North Ogden City Code.

One way the planning department protects the rights of North Ogden City residents is by helping them understand city standards for contemplated improvements on their property through the land use permit application process and work toward successful approval of their desired use on their property, if consistent with the zoning requirements of the North Ogden City Code. Land use permits ensure that a property owner who would like to build a fence, install or build a shed, or add concrete to their lot are able to do so within the requirements of the North Ogden City Zoning Code. This ensures that both the property owner’s interests, the interests of their neighbors, and the city as a whole are considered.

An example of a common project that would require a land use permit is adding a concrete patio or RV parking pad. Increasing the amount of concrete or other hard surface on a lot reduces the amount of land available to absorb rain or runoff water near where the water falls. Since the storm water is not retained on site, it enters the storm sewer system. This creates an impact on the storm sewer system, which leads to increased service fees. If too much stormwater enters the storm sewer system, it can cause problems such as overwhelming pipes or detention basins. To reduce the demand on the storm sewer infrastructure, the city has created a minimum vegetative area requirement on properties across the city. This ensures that much of the stormwater is absorbed on site by the soil and does not enter the storm sewer system. The North Ogden City Zoning Code exists, in part, to prevent this and similar problems.

Once a land use permit application has been received, a member of the planning department examines the request for compliance with the city zoning code, the property’s dedication plat, and known special restrictions, e.g., utility easements or geologic hazards. If the project is compliant with city ordinances, the land use permit will be approved, and the applicant will be notified of the decision.

If a proposed project does not meet the zoning ordinance or there is a special restriction on the lot, a member of the planning department will contact the applicant to inform them of the restrictions or any changes needed. In these instances, if the project can work with modifications, planning department staff works with the applicant to provide options that will allow the applicant to modify the proposed project so it will conform to city code before work begins.

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions regarding land use permits, zoning, or planning, please contact a member of the North Ogden City Planning Department at 801-782-2215.