The planning commission in the special meeting/public hearing last night tabled the issue of changing the TOD zoning ordinance text.  The planning commission has sent the issue back to the sub-committee to continue working on the text of the ordinance.  The planning commission will hold another public hearing on the issue in the weeks to come.

Last night the City Council voted unanimously to deny the application by Ron Martinez of America West for approval of the project master plan of "Park Place".  The plan as presented at the meeting showed the project having 7 buildings with 24 apartment units each for a total number of 168 units.  However the Mayor pointed out that proposed plan was ambiguous enough to possibly allow for well over 300 units.  The development also called for a 10,000 sq. ft. restaurant and office space in a two level building and another building with a credit union.  A club house with pool, hot tub, and play ground were specified as community amenities.

Ron Martinez explained that America West would not ultimately be the builders.  America West has letters of intent from large apartment management companies who will ultimately build the apartments.  The banks and restaurant/office will be built by their respective owners.  The whole development would be a $25 million investment for all involved.  The rest of his 148 acres up the tracks would be roughly a $150 million investment.

A dozen or so Farmington residents spoke against the proposal with Ron Martinez,  two individuals of his team, and a SLC developer speaking for it.  Unexpectedly (at least from a residents perspective) was that the real fireworks was between the Mayor/City Council and the developer and his team.  The developer had taken real issue to the the City's TOD (transit oriented development) zoning ordinance.  To the developer the ordinance was much too ambiguous leaving them frustrated at delays by City staff and "subjectivity" imposed by the Planning Commission and the City Council.  The City fired back by pointing out equal ambiguity in the developer's project master plan.

This was a small battle won by those who oppose dense housing in Farmington.  However this parcel will be developed and the City does seem to be sympathetic to building some level of high density housing (non single family units) there.  They just didn't like America West's current proposal.

Up next in the shaping of the look and feel of west Farmington is the battle for changes in the TOD zoning ordinance text.  The planning commission will hold a special meeting with a public hearing on August 7th at 7:00PM to discuss the text changes of the TOD zoning ordinance.

The TOD zoning ordinance text is absolutely critical to get right as developers internalize this law when planning their development projects. The City is legally bound to approve development plans that comply with the zoning ordinance. This is why the City Council and Planning Commission are scrambling to get new TOD zoning text approved.

The SL Trib has reported on the Legacy Parkway trail system. UDOT after a year will not maintain the trail system requiring the Cities along the trail to pay for the cost of maintainence. Here is the story: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_9788202

The Deseret News reports that parcels in the North Legacy corridor will be purchased. The land is in Roy and West Kaysville. Funds to purchase the parcels come from the $10 increase in Davis County vehicle registration tax.

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700228908,00.html

In a follow up to the earlier post: "Senator Killpack's Smelly Eminent Domain Bill - SB208" Jason Snow offers his view of Senator Killpack's bill:

High Priority

Study this BILL SB208 and contact your senator and representative and let them know how your views about this bill.

I would encourage each of you to study Senate Bill 208 this is a bill that is being proposed by Sheldon Killpack. He represents the Syracuse and Layton areas. He is proposing that a committee of seven people from the UDOT be given the power to declare eminent domain in transportation corridors that are deemed "high priority". Below are just some of the highlights that I quickly found in the bill. I am sure that there is more. It seems on the face that this bill is meant to by pass the public input and debate about where roads go. It seems that Senator Killpack and the other sponsors of this bill are tired of fighting the public and instead of following the laws already in place they are going to create a new law so that they can speed things up.

72-5-402. Public purpose.
184 (1) The Legislature finds and declares that the planning and preservation of
185 transportation corridors is a public purpose, that the acquisition of public rights in private
186 property for possible use as a transportation corridor years in advance is a public purpose, and
187 that acquisition of public rights in private property for possible use as alternative transportation
188 corridors is a public purpose, even if one or more of the transportation corridors is eventually
189 not used for a public purpose, so long as reasonable evidence exists at the time of acquisition
190 that the transportation facility will be developed within the time period established under this
191 part.


(b) The department may:
230 (i) use eminent domain powers for the acquisition of private property rights for
231 transportation corridor preservation purposes:
232 (A) if the property is located within the boundaries of a critical transportation corridor
233 designated under Subsection (4)(a); and
234 (B) no sooner than 45 days after the department has notified a county or municipality
235 in accordance with Subsection (4)(a)(ii); and
236 (ii) for the acquisition of private property rights through the use of eminent domain
237 powers for transportation corridor purposes authorized under this Subsection (4)(b)

Here is information on contacting elected officials.

The Deseret Morning News reports that the Davis County Commissioners have hired engineers to "figure out how best to make the Events Center... fit in with future freeway plans". The article explains the findings of the engineers.

The mindset by the county commissioners in this matter is quite disconcerting. One assumption the commissioners seem to be making is that the Legacy connector will follow the option 3 path UDOT has chosen. The option 3 proposal for a freeway will shave off a big chuck of the Fairgrounds and split west Farmington in a very detrimental way. The Farmington City Council rejected this option and told UDOT that the City's preferred route is option 2 which takes the connector to the west of Farmington City not through it.

The commissioners seem to be also looking at general improvement to the fairgrounds by hiring the engineering firm. This motive is welcome. However the primary motive to hiring the engineers seems to be an act of capitulating to UDOT and snubbing the City of Farmington. The County Commissioners need to throw their support behind the Farmington City council by not facilitating the easement of UDOT's desired option 3 route for the Legacy Connector. The improvement of the Fairgrounds is very welcome but not at the expense of making room for a very unwelcome freeway alignment.

Follow the link to read the Deseret News article: http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695251438,00.html

The Davis County Clipper is also carrying the story: http://www.clippertoday.com/link.asp?smenu=1&sdetail=25263&wpage=1