North Davis Gymnastics gets temporary home

LAYTON — Another Layton business owner forced to relocate because of an upcoming freeway off-ramp has a new home, at least temporarily.

The Layton Planning Commission granted a conditional-use permit for North Davis Gymnastics to move to 1052 W. Hill Field Road, the former location of Deseret Industries in Layton.

Keith Potter, owner of North Davis Gymnastics, began looking for a new location for his 500 to 600 students to practice on the balance beam, uneven bars and vault when the Utah Department of Transportation notified him it would begin construction on a new I-15 interchange near Main Street and Fort Lane in Layton.

The $97 million project is expected to displace a handful of businesses, most of which are still trying to work out arrangements for relocating.

North Davis Gymnastics, currently located at 249 S. Main, is one of the businesses in the way.

Potter said the new location is larger, which could allow him to host gymnastics meets. But he recognizes that because he will rent the location on a month-to-month basis, he may have to move again.

Amanda Jorgensen, a Layton city planner, told the Planning Commission the site already meets most of the conditions imposed by the city, but she added that Potter will have to obtain a new business license, comply with the city's sign ordinance and keep the site free of weeds, debris and junk.

The easy approval from the Planning Commission on Tuesday night relieved one of Potter's headaches with the interchange construction.

After the first appraisal on his property came back with what he believed was an inaccurate value, he appealed to UDOT's ombudsman, and the agency agreed to pay for a second appraisal on his current property.

Potter said he doesn't have a date to move into the new facility yet, but he expects the move to happen within two months.

Sill's Cafe, which is also currently located on Main Street and will be forced to relocate, will have a new home in November at about 335 E. Gentile St., across the parking lot from Burger Stop.

e-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com

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