PERRY, UTAH, Aug. 5 (Brigham City News) — A proposed change to Perry’s development agreement would remove a planned connection between Hargis Hill Road and U.S. Highway 89, changing how future residents of the Olsen Orchards subdivision — and nearby existing homes — would reach the state highway.
The change is part of Ordinance 25-U, an amendment concerning property near 1111 W. 3600 South.
The amendment’s development-agreement language removes both the proposed realignment of Hargis Hill Road and direct access to Highway 89. It also moves lot 304 into the area affected by the road change.
The records reviewed do not establish whether the amendment was ultimately adopted, when it would take effect or what the final subdivision layout would be.
What was originally planned?
The earlier development plan called for Hargis Hill Road to be realigned so it would meet Highway 89 at a right angle. The agreement says the existing road reaches the highway at an undesirable angle.
The same document says the Utah Department of Transportation initially gave preliminary approval to the layout. It later required the developer to eliminate the Highway 89 connection, according to the development-agreement material.
That means the proposed change is not described as a completed road project. It is a change to the land-use and development agreement that would remove the planned connection.
Why does UDOT matter?
Highway 89 is a state highway, so UDOT has a role in reviewing access points and roadway designs. Direct access means a driveway or public road connects directly to the highway. State transportation agencies often review such connections for spacing, safety and traffic operations.
During a Jan. 9, 2025, Perry City Council discussion, council members and city staff considered possible Hargis Hill Road alignment options and sought clearer information from UDOT. The discussion included estimates of about 780 feet between existing access points and about 550 feet under one alternative. The discussion also noted that UDOT standards can vary and that the agency generally prefers fewer access points on a state highway.
The council tabled the Olsen Orchards development agreement and zone-change request while seeking additional information about architectural design, landscaping and Highway 89 access.
No UDOT access permit, engineering memorandum or letter from a named UDOT official was included in the available records. The development-agreement material states that UDOT required the highway connection to be eliminated, but it does not provide the underlying UDOT document.
What would change for residents?
Under the amendment language, Olsen Orchards would not receive the planned direct connection from Hargis Hill Road to Highway 89. The records do not identify the final route residents would use to reach the highway.
The available documents also do not specify how access would change for existing homes along Hargis Hill Road. They do not identify the number of affected homes or subdivision lots, or quantify any effect on traffic, congestion or safety.
Because the amendment’s final status is not clear in the available material, the documents do not show that a current access change has taken place.
How does this fit Perry’s transportation policy?
Perry’s 2019 General Plan says the city should prevent direct access to U.S. 89 where access is not warranted. It also supports direct access where development is appropriate and access is warranted.
That policy leaves the decision dependent on the site, the proposed development and the transportation review. In the Olsen Orchards case, the central question is whether the planned highway connection should remain in the development agreement after UDOT’s review.
Is construction funded or scheduled?
The supplied records do not identify a funding source, project budget, construction contract or completion date for the proposed road or access changes. They also do not establish that construction has begun or that a separate Highway 89 reconstruction project is connected to the Olsen Orchards decision.
For now, the documented action is a proposed amendment to the development agreement and the city’s earlier request for more information. The final access arrangement remains unresolved in the available records.
