Clearfield tables zoning map amendment that could lead to supportive housing facility

CLEARFIELD — The Clearfield City Council voted on Tuesday to table a decision on rezoning an area of the city, which could lead to the construction of Davis County's first and only supportive housing.

Davis County, the project applicant, is under contract to purchase the property at 1230 E. 1450 South, which would be used as a supportive housing facility with 60 units. The county is now reconsidering the population it is targeting to be seniors who are facing homelessness, according to Ryan Steinbeigle, Davis County's community services manager.

"We feel like seniors is an appropriate target population because that is the biggest in terms of homelessness; that is where we are seeing the biggest increase in homelessness, is with seniors," Steinbeigle said. "We feel like that's probably the best population to serve and also will alleviate some of the concerns that have been expressed by residents that live in that area."

With the parcel area listed as 5.26 acres, Davis County requested that 4.25 acres of the property be rezoned from commercial to "commercial with a supportive housing overlay" to pursue its plans for a supportive housing facility. One acre of the property would remain commercial to provide future commercial uses, according to an information packet.

The housing would also include mental health services, drug and alcohol counseling, job and employment training, case management and more.

Supporters of the project started off Tuesday's public comment period with thoughts about how the selected area in Clearfield could provide support to those seeking help with homelessness.

Those in support mentioned how they felt helping their homeless neighbors out was important and that nearby public transportation options would help those living in the supportive housing.

With more public commenters speaking on the opposing side, most said they were also in support of helping those in need but felt residents already in the city deserved more and should be thought of.

Clearfield City Mayor Mike Shepherd spoke about how he is a "massive supporter of taking care of (the) homeless population," but said he still felt like the proposed area in Clearfield was not the right place for the facility to be built.

"We have a homeless population that needs to be taken care of. We have a permanent supportive housing group that needs to be taken care of, and needs a place to be and they cannot afford to live anywhere else. They've got to live somewhere, and it's a society that we need to take care of," Shepherd said. "I just don't know anymore that this is the right place."

Shepherd shared how the site is "everything on paper" and is within proximity of transportation opportunities and places like CommonSpirit Health's Holy Cross Hospital, Davis Behavioral Health and the Department of Workforce Services. However, Shepherd said that may not be enough reason to vote yes on the proposal.

"There's not a better site, probably, in Davis County to put permanent supportive housing," Shepherd said. "But I don't know that, that makes it right. I don't know that that's where it's gonna be."

Shepherd also works as a realtor and said the area in question is a valuable commercial property. He asked the question of whether rezoning the property for supportive housing is the highest and best use of the land, knowing the commercial value, and said he's even had people who are interested in using the location commercially ask him about it.

Opposers agreed with Shepherd, saying they felt the land should be used for more commercial opportunities. In addition, they worried about the safety of children living within the city and felt there needed to be more research done to make a decision on the supportive housing.

After much discussion, the Clearfield City Council agreed to table the rezoning amendment until Nov. 24, when the city council will discuss the subject further during a work meeting held at 6 p.m. and a city council meeting held at 7 p.m.

If the city council approves the rezoning amendment, that will not constitute the approval or denial of the permanent supportive housing facility.