THE PLANNING COMMISSION SHOULD DENY QUICK QUACK AT JAKE’S OVER THE TOP SITE

A Quick Quack car wash at this location is in direct conflict with the general plan for southeast Ogden, updated in 2020 that calls for 1) Create gathering areas for WSU students and community members 2) transit-oriented development 3) Protect the single family neighborhoods in the area. The Ogden Planning Commission Meeting is this Wednesday, May 3, 5:00 pm, at the Council Chambers, on the third floor of the Ogden Municipal Building and approval for the conditional permit is on the agenda. This vote will be the FINAL action and being at the meeting, or sending comment remotely, is our last chance to make our voices heard.

EDITORIAL

Sunset view from Jake’s Over the Top in 2019. Deann Armes

Ogden residents are grieving their favorite local shake dive closing up shop, and many are opposed to a planned Quick Quack car wash that would replace the former locally-owned Jake’s Over the Top at the corner of Harrison Boulevard and Country Hills Drive.

Quick Quack Corp purchased this prized real estate a few years ago, and Jake’s Over the Top was renting from them before deciding to retire. However, the planning commission would have to approve a conditional permit to allow Quick Quack to build their car wash on the property.

The Ogden Planning Commission Meeting is this Wednesday, May 3, 5:00 pm, at the Council Chambers, on the third floor of the Ogden Municipal Building and approval for a conditional permit that would allow the car wash to be built in this location is on the agenda. This vote will be the FINAL action and being at the meeting, or sending comment remotely, is our last chance to make our voices heard.

WHY THIS MATTERS: Being a hop, skip and a jump from Weber State University, a corporate car wash is not in alignment with our vision for a walkable, culturally-enriched neighborhood that will cater to foot traffic and patrons of local businesses in the area, like The Pie, Beans and Brews, University Broiler and many more. The planning commission has the right to deny this action if it is determined to not be consistent with the general plan—according to former planning commission member Angel Castillo.

The Ogden City Planning Commission can and should vote NO on a conditional use permit that would allow Quick Quack to build a car wash on Harrison Boulevard and Country Hills Drive in Southeast Ogden. They have the right to deny this request based on the fact that it is NOT consistent with the general plan for the area, updated in 2020. There are no conditions that would make this development compatible with the general plan in place.

Here are 3 key points (there are more) in The Southeast Ogden Community Vision Plan that this action would violate, causing a negative impact to residents, Weber State University students, and other small businesses i.e. The Pie.

From The Southeast Ogden Community Vision Plan, Land Use, section 14.4.K, Vision Strategies

• Create gathering areas for WSU students and community members.

In this section it states: "...provide additional food and entertainment opportunities in close proximity to WSU along Harrison." "Corridor community members have expressed concern about the lack of commercial amenities for students in the area."

• Transit-oriented development. "The community feels that transit-oriented development options would be appropriate for this area."

• Protect the single family neighborhoods in the area. "Residents voiced concern during the plan development process about protecting the single family neighborhoods in the community.

We hope the planning commission will act on behalf of our vision for this area of the city that has already been established.

You can join the planning commission meeting on Wednesday if you oppose the car wash. If you can’t be there but want to speak up, do it remotely! Here’s how:

SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT REMOTELY

If you are unable to attend a meeting but would like to submit your comment to the Planning Commission, you can leave a message at 801-629-8930, or email planning@ogdencity.com. Comments submitted by noon on Tuesday before a meeting will be added to the public record of that meeting. Submissions will be forwarded to the Planning Commission when received.

You can also attend the planning commission meeting via Zoom. Public comments will be allowed before the vote.

ZOOM LINK

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88441486504

Meeting ID #884 4148 6504

Password 685679

Phone line only option: 1 346 248 7799

We can’t change the world but we can change our neighborhood.