Kaysville leaders mulling reinvention of city’s downtown via redevelopment, new infrastructure

KAYSVILLE — Kaysville officials are taking steps to reinvent the city’s downtown, hoping to boost business and activity in the core area.

The public funding sought to help with the long-term effort, some $5.17 million over many years, may not be big, relatively speaking, says City Manager Jaysen Christensen. “But it’s big for us, and I think it’s going to make a difference in helping us revitalize our core,” he said.

The plans have been in the works since 2021, and the broad vision is to encourage more retail, commercial and mixed-used development, augment walkability in the area and distinguish Kaysville’s core area from other cities’ commercial zones. Kaysville — one of 15 cities packed into Davis County — has traditionally been a “bedroom” community, and the plans, Christensen hopes, will help bolster the city’s commercial profile.

A 46-page document released last month outlines the broad parameters of the vision, which would entail involvement of private property owners and private developers in addition to public projects that could include improvements to portions of Main Street. The Kaysville City Center Reinvestment Area encompasses 261.5 acres in and around the city’s historic center, Main Street and 200 North. It extends west along 200 North to Flint Street and includes Flint Street northwesterly from 200 North to Flint Meadow Drive.

“The city has had very positive feedback on the proposed (reinvestment area) from other taxing entities,” Christensen said.

In fact, the Davis County Commission on Nov. 19 approved an agreement with the city allowing county tax-increment funds — property taxes generated by a portion of new development brought on by the plans in the years to come — to be tapped for public infrastructure projects. The city holds a hearing on Jan. 2 to get public feedback on the plans and will seek agreements with the Davis School District and other taxing entities to tap into tax-increment funding generated in their boundaries.

While specific development initiatives would come later, the city’s general plan offers a hint of the vision. Per the planning document, the city hopes to lure more commercial and mixed-use development to the area and improve the streetscape and parking in the area. “It will also focus on becoming a pedestrian friendly district and a place for the community to gather for events and activities,” reads the general plan.

Public projects using tax-increment funds could include improvements to Main Street between 200 North and 100 South, among many other possibilities. Specific Main Street upgrades, already studied by the Utah Department of Transportation, could include widening of the roadway, installation of medians and “traffic calming” measures to slow auto speeds.

Additional possibilities, according to Christensen, include landscaping, sidewalk expansion, creation of “public open space amenities” and development of a parking structure.

City officials hope to generate $5.17 million in all in tax-increment funds over the long haul, 15 years, including $3.19 million from Davis School District, $1.07 million from the city of Kaysville and $589,400 from Davis County. Tax-increment funding doesn’t reduce property tax funds entering the coffers of public entities as it’s based on new development. What’s more, the project won’t require property tax hikes.

Creation of the reinvestment area “does not change the property tax levy, and the Kaysville Redevelopment Agency does not have authority to set tax rates or levy property tax,” Christensen said. The redevelopment agency, made up of Kaysville City Council members, is overseeing the development initiative.