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Ephraim City general plan changed to accommodate large proposed subdivision

ByBrock Smith
A satellite image showing a large field next to Walmart
Map shows the area that was rezoned by the Ephraim City Council on March 5. The area had previously been in the Residential-Agricultural (RA) Zone and was projected in the General Plan to be zoned commercial at some future time. The zoning and the General Plan have both been changed, and the area is not R2, which permits single-family homes and duplexes. The owner envisions a subdivision of approximately up to 70 homes.

EPHRAIM—Ephraim City has made a change in its general plan as well as in the zoning for an area on the north end of the city in order to accommodate a subdivision that could significantly add to the city’s housing inventory.

On Wednesday, March 5, the city council voted unanimously to change the zoning for the undeveloped piece of land north and west of Walmart, owned by Steve Butterfield, from the Residential-Agricultural (RA), which is oriented toward large lots and a mix of residential and agricultural uses, to R2, which permits single family homes and duplexes.

However, the zone change first required first a change in the city’s General Plan, which foresaw the area as becoming commercial as businesses spread northward from Walmart. The city council made both changes in the March 5 meeting.

The decision paves the way for Butterfield to pursue plans for a subdivision that could hold as many as 60-70 new homes.

“It’s something we need as the city of Ephraim,” Ephraim City Planner Megan Spurling said, describing Butterfield’s vision for the area, and why it justified the General Plan modification.

The property—from 700 North to 800 North and from 250 West to 400 West—is the equivalent of one and a half square blocks.

“Mr. Butterfield would like to change it to R2,” Spurling explained to city council members. “The reason he seeks the R2 Zone is because he would like to make smaller lot sizes and homes of about 1,200 square feet.”

“He plans to make some lots that are smaller [and] focus more on some starter homes for small families, or people who want to retire and don’t want to take care of a big lot,” she said.

Prior to the council considering both the subdivision and rezoning requests, the Ephraim City Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend in favor of the General Plan change and rezoning. On the zoning change, however, there was a split vote of 4-1.

Councilman Dennis Nordfeldt, the council liaison with the Planning and Zoning Commission, said one P&Z member preferred rezoning the area to R1, which does not allow duplexes, something Planning and Zoning members do not want more of in that area.

Spurling reported that Butterfield had already made commitments that he would not build duplexes.

And, Spurling said Tuesday, the R2 zone was “a better stepdown” for the area. “We didn’t want it to be RA [Residential Agricultural], (where) you’re expecting country living, and you have Walmart a block away.”

Butterfield has not yet applied to the city for the subdivision, Spurling said. Before he subdivides, he’ll have to go through the subdivision approval process which includes recording a plat map.

“The lots will be decided,” Spurling told the city council. “… To amend a subdivision is not an easy task once [the subdivision itself] is done. It will be a lot of legwork to make those lots bigger, and you would have to buy three [lots] just to make…two duplexes.

“…I think the scenario is unlikely that it would happen,” Spurling said.