Box Elder County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

County agendas: BRAG contract, zoning changes, subdivision and home-occupation rules on the table

Box Elder County officials held several meetings over the past two weeks, but minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions have been reported. The most consequential items on the agendas were an economic development contract, a fee schedule update, and direction on zoning unzoned areas.

County Commission (Aug. 12)

The Box Elder County Commission met Aug. 12 with an agenda that included:

• **Economic development contract** – Approval of Contract #26-43 with BRAG. The agenda lists the amount as $0, with no specific figure provided.
• **Fee schedule update** – Resolution #26-24 updating the county's Consolidated Fee Schedule.
• **Zoning direction** – A request for direction on zoning unzoned areas of the county.
• **Bicycle ban** – Ordinance #665 prohibiting bicycles on Landfill Road.
• **Land acquisition consent** – Resolution #26-25 consenting to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's acquisition of state lands for the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

No votes or outcomes were reported.

Planning Commission (Aug. 20)

The Planning Commission met Aug. 20 and held a public hearing on a proposed text amendment to the Home Occupations ordinance (Z26-016), which would change Section 5-1-290(C) of the Land Use Management & Development Code. The commission also considered:

• **Serenity Vista Subdivision** – Preliminary approval request for a 12-lot development at approximately 11000 N Hwy 38 in the Deweyville area.
• **Public comment rules** – Adoption of policies for submission of material and public comment.
• **Zoning unzoned areas** – A working report on the same topic.
• Approval of the July 16, 2026 meeting minutes.

A separate public hearing notice for the home occupation text amendment was also published for the same date.

Local Emergency Planning Committee (Aug. 12)

The committee met to review reports, including a presentation on Box Elder County Emergency Management digital resources by Lynnette Crockett and Mark Millett, a hazmat report, a business outreach report, and approval of July 8 meeting minutes. No decisions were reported.

Coming up

• **Sept. 2 – County Commission public hearings** on winter seasonal road closures for Dairy Valley Road, Willard Peak Road, Rocky Dugway Road, Long Divide Road, and Short Divide Road. The hearings are required by Utah Code § 72-5-105.
• **Sept. 2 – County Commission public hearing** on creating an Agricultural Protection Area in the Elwood area of unincorporated Box Elder County. The hearing starts at 5:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers at the Box Elder County Courthouse, 1 S Main Street, Brigham City. Three maps of the proposed area are attached to the notice.

Box Elder County Commission weighed Agricultural Protection Area, zoning changes, and fire protection fund; tax increase hearings open through August

Box Elder County's July 22 Commission meeting agenda included a proposed Agricultural Protection Area in Riverside, multiple zoning map amendments, several indigent defense contracts, and a new residential fire protection fund. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published, so it is not yet possible to confirm which items were approved, rejected, or continued.

Agricultural Protection Area hearing

The Commission scheduled a public hearing for July 22 at 11:30 a.m. in the Commission Chambers at the Box Elder County Courthouse, 1 S Main Street, Brigham City, to receive input on a proposal to create an Agricultural Protection Area (APA) in the Riverside area of unincorporated Box Elder County. The proposal is identified as the Capener Riverside APA, with maps attached to the agenda. The hearing was for public comment; no decision was scheduled at that hearing.

Zoning map amendments

The July 22 agenda listed three zoning map amendments for consideration:

• Ordinance #662: changing an area from unzoned to MG-EX.
• Ordinance #659: changing an area from RR-5 to RR-20.
• Ordinance #663: changing an area from unzoned to AHZ.

Whether these ordinances passed is not confirmed, as minutes have not been published.

Indigent defense contracts

The agenda included multiple indigent legal services contracts numbered #26-34 through #26-40, along with an Indigent Defense Commission grant. These items were listed for Commission consideration.

Fire protection fund and fire services

Ordinance #661 was on the agenda to establish a residential fire protection fund in the urban-wildland interface. The meeting also covered a fire protection fund program and the assumption of fire services.

Property tax abatement

A property tax abatement request was listed for parcel #03-223-0034. No outcome is confirmed.

Property tax increase notices

A Truth in Taxation combined public notice lists Box Elder County fiscal year taxing entities that are proposing property tax increases. Public hearings are scheduled at various dates, times, and locations listed in the attached notice. The public comment period runs through August 31, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Residents can contact Shirlene Larsen at (435) 734-3360 or slarsen@boxeldercountyut.gov for details. ADA accommodations are available by contacting Elizabeth Ryan at 435-734-2634.

Cancelled hearing

A public hearing notice regarding winter seasonal road closures has been cancelled. The hearing had been intended to gather input on Dairy Valley Road, Willard Peak Road, Rocky Dugway Road, Long Divide Road, and Short Divide Road.

Coming up

The Local Emergency Planning Committee meets August 12, 2026. The agenda includes a presentation on Box Elder County Emergency Management Digital Resources by Lynnette Crockett and Mark Millett, a Hazmat Report, a Business Outreach report, and approval of the July 8, 2026 meeting minutes.