Layton sees record housing lull

LAYTON — The usual housing boom isn't even making a pop in Layton this winter, with new residential construction almost at zero — the slowest period in at least 29 years, according to city staff.

There's little digging or hammering going on as Layton issued no new-building permits in December and just one in January. There are none so far in February either, though there could be at least several by month's end.

Building permits for homes in other areas of Salt Lake and Davis counties are way down, too.

Last year, Layton issued 28 residential building permits in January and 19 in December 2006. "We're in the dip that's affecting everybody," Peter Matson, Layton city planner, said of the housing slowdown.

It's not only a frigid housing market in general, but the cold, snowy winter is also likely a factor, Matson said. "It's a combination."

This is an unprecedented lull in his 15 years with Layton. The winter has also been one of the most severe, too, since the 1980s.

Scott Carter, Layton director of community development, said he's never seen such a slow period for housing in his almost 30 years with the city.

"We're slow ... it's a market-driven thing," he said. "And the builders are waiting for the weather to break."

Layton averaged more than 23 new-home permits a month last year, compared to an average of 39 or more a month during 2006. So, the pace has been slowing, but an almost complete stop wasn't expected.

Neighboring Kaysville is also slow, but not like Layton. Andy Thompson, city engineer, said Kaysville issued 11 residential building permits in December and eight in January. That was slightly less than the previous year.

Overall, Kaysville had 193 new-home permits in 2007, compared to an all-time high of 400 in 2006. Matson said Layton still has some large tracts of open space that's zoned residential, especially on the city's west side.

However, he stressed that even though there is a large tract of open land just south of the Hill Air Force Base runways, that can't be used for housing. That's because of the limitations from it being in an ACU Zone — an air-installation compatible use zone — that promotes safety around the flight paths from the base. Matson expects new housing to pick up in the coming months,

Layton's estimated population is 70,000. Depending on zoning density, Layton would build-out at a population of 110,000 to 120,000 residents by 2030-2040. "More realistically it'll be 110,000," Matson said.