ST. GEORGE — What began as a move to expand the existing city hall in St. George to provide more space for the Police Department has since morphed into plans for a newer, larger city hall on Main Street right across the street from the Town Square.

The St. George City Council was given a preview of plans Thursday for a new, three-story building and adjacent parking structure slated to be built south of Wells Fargo on Main Street.

Marc Mortensen, assistant city manager of operations, told the City Council during a work meeting Thursday afternoon that plans to expand the existing city hall had been stalled due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We stopped the project entirely,” Mortensen said. “It gave us the opportunity to reevaluate our plans.”

Locations within the city were considered for a new town hall with city planners eventually focusing on the parking area south of Wells Fargo. The city entered into talks with the bank with a purchase agreement for $2.7 million being approved by the council during its Nov. 3 meeting.

As a part of the agreement to buy the property behind Wells Fargo, the city is required to replace the bank’s drive-through ATM as it will be demolishing the ATM/teller building that sits on the corner of Main Street and 100 South.

Replacing the bank’s drive-though ATM will run the city an estimated $150,000-plus, Mortensen said, adding the tentative timetable for demolition and replacement should be sometime this winter.

The new city hall would face the Town Square as one purpose of the new facility is to expand the visitation and use of the downtown area. It is also designed with extra space in mind for the future expansion of various city departments.

A rendering of a proposed design for the building shows a three-story structure with an entrance into an atrium area largely composed of glass. The atrium runs through the building from east to west, and planners hope to enlist the public’s help in determining the best use and look of this feature.

On the first floor will be the council chambers, which are estimated to be three times larger than the room in which the council currently meets. Also planned for the first floor are the general administrative services that work with the public on a regular basis, with additional city departments located on the second and third floors.

A large conference room is also set for the new building on the second floor and is intended for both city and public use. A sky well is also set to be built in the center of the building that will run through each floor.

Council members Danielle Larkin and Gregg McArthur emphasized wanting the new city hall to be accessible for public use both during the day and “after 6 p.m. when everything closes.”

Ways proposed to help foster more public access and use included a small retail or coffee shop-style space in the building accessible through the atrium on the first floor. A “St. George merch (merchandise) store” also was suggested in connection to something that might appeal to visitors. This spot would remain open and accessible into the evening after city business ended for the day.

McArthur suggested expanding the public space so the people would have better access to the south of the building where a public plaza is planned.

“We could do more to make this a public building,” McArthur said. “This is the most prime spot in St. George. It should be open to the public.”

The new public space is another spot that can be used in conjunction with events primarily set around the Town Square, Mortensen said.

Along with the new town hall and public plaza, the location will see the construction of a four-level parking structure that will host over 300 parking stalls, sitting directly east of the city hall. To the south of the structure where a grass-covered lot currently sits along 100 South is a potential commercial space the city could sell or lease for future use.

The city hopes to break ground for the new building around June or July 2023, Mortensen said.

The general design of the city hall project is subject to change based on recommendations made by council members. Once the new city hall is completed, the former city hall on 200 East will be transferred to the police department for expansion.

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