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Show Volume XIV Issue XIII The Ogden Valley news Page 7 April 1, 2007 Announcements (cont. from page 6) Obituaries Colorado and grew up in Pueblo, Colorado. She retired from Weber State University and enjoyed playing Bingo and trips to Wendover. Ruby is preceded in death by her husband, Ruby Martinez Felix J. Martinez, and one grandson, Alexander McCubbin, Ogden, parents Joe B & Eva Cruz; two brothers, John Cruz and Joe I. Cruz, Pueblo, Colorado. She is survived by her loving children, Alvin (Linda) Chase, Ogden, Barbara (David) Benstog, Huntsville; Patricia (Fred) Rangel, Carbondale, Colorado; Paul (Kay) Luna, Perris, California; Kathy Lunca Pacheco, San Diego, California; 10 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are four sisters Ida Prien, Maria Watta, and Stella Martinez, all of Pueblo Colorado, and Terry (Marlin) Loosle, St George, Utah. A funeral mass was held Friday, March 16, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Vigil service with rosary was held Thursday, March 15, at 6:00 p.m. in the Larkin & Sons Mortuary . Interment in the Ogden City Cemetery. Deceased Velma Lillian Belnap 84, died March 14, 2007. Talmage Wheeler Skeen 73, died March 8, 2007. Sheila Kay Wood 64, died March 14, 2007. Zachary Edward Clow 20, died March 18, 2007. MORATORIUM cont. from page 3 what the rules are, and until they change, we have no choice but to let development proceed apace!” That is illogical; that is irresponsible; that is weak-willed; that is inexcusable. The mistake must be repaired immediately, and this Valley must be put back on the right course before it is too late. The current Ogden Valley planning commission should be able to say to the county commission, “Hey! You have us operating on a set of rules that are based on an outrageous error made nine years ago that still persists! Fix it!” The current County Commissioners must have (or develop) the moral courage to impose a moratorium on further development in this Valley NOW to give all sides an opportunity to debate what is debatable, to acknowledge what is indisputable, to identify problems that the process and the solutions may cause, and, in turn, to solve those new problems in the best way possible. Certainly, perpetuation of the mistake to date has already caused damage. The practice thus far of issuing wholesale permission to developers to build willy-nilly either on the erroneous assumption that we would wind up with only 6,200 or, conversely, that we WILL have 17,500 dwelling units when all is said and done because we made a mistake and now have no other choice, will no doubt preclude others from developing their land if we scale back, as we must, to the 6,200 that the Valley can support. “The race is to the swift,” it is said, and it may well be that those developers who acted quickly to get us as close to 6,200 as we are today will preclude others from developing their land—ever. Perhaps those others will be entitled to some form of compensation; perhaps not. Grand plans currently on the drawing boards of existing and would-be developers may have to be shelved. Land acquisitions already made in furtherance of those plans may prove to have been wasted. Too bad . . . maybe that’s one of those risks that developers are so fond of citing. On the other hand, once it is determined who made the mistake in the first place, perhaps malpractice insurance or jury verdicts can compensate those who can prove that they sustained damage as a result of it. Perpetuating the mistake is not the answer; fixing it is. And the sooner, the better. Frank Cumberland, Huntsville VALLEY cont. from page 3 wildlife in this valley as growth escalates. One particular proposed development in East Huntsville is a big concern. This development is called The Rivers, and it is to be a cluster subdivision of 46 lots located at 7800 E. Highway 39. To clarify, this is the fields where two rivers run through them—between Jackson Fork Inn and the American Legion—on the west side of the highway. Many view this area as a gateway to Huntsville, and a visual introduction to our beautiful rural community. Seeing the long grasses with horses grazing and the sandhill cranes enjoying the marshes ter” development, but doesn’t specify where. Developers and those trying to exploit our Valley are very smart, and they are taking advantage of this. We are going to be “clustered” to pieces before we know it. We need to put a hold or moratorium on development, and adjust our ordinances to ensure that our Valley doesn’t become something we don’t want. Growth needs to be managed! Weber County is the body politic up here, and I feel that they haven’t tried to do their best; they don’t want to lose such a large tax base. But, the truth is, they don’t live up here so they are not directly affected by the growth. At the last planning meeting it was very apparent, and also stated, that the Ogden Valley Planning Commission can only make recommendations, and Weber County has the final say. The unincorporated areas of the Valley need to break away and become their own separate entity. We need to elect officials who, when making decisions, are also affected by these decisions. This Valley is a jewel that is too precious to lose, but it is slipping through our fingers. I know life is busy. As a mother of two small children, I understand time restraints. But we need to make time for our beloved Valley; it may sound corny but it’s true. We need to band together and fight for change, or, should I say, fight to prevent unwanted change! The next Ogden Valley Township Planning Meeting is on Tuesday, March 27. The website address for upcoming agendas can be found at <http://www1. co.weber.ut.us/planning_commission/TheOg denValleyTownshipPlanningCommissionAge ndas.htm> If you would like to contact me, my email address is <huntsvillehaven@mytinystar.com> and open space is a scene of peaceful tranquility. I just took pictures of two pairs of cranes just a couple days ago in the center of this proposed subdivision. These birds, and many others, come here year after year. Where will they go if this becomes just another subdivision? Other current residents include frogs, fox, owls, countless migratory birds, deer, moose, and we have even seen some type of fireflies glowing down in the fields at night. The area where the proposed Rivers subdivision would be located is also in a floodplain, and most years it is marshy and wet—all spring and most of the summer. It is amazing that building in this area is even being considered because flooding and water damage is inevitable—not to mention mosquito infestations. The past couple of years have been abnormally dry, so any tests to determine whether this area is considered wetlands couldn’t possible be accurate. Also, the impact on the rivers and banks in this subdivision needs to be fully assessed. The Ogden Valley master plan is quite lovely and flowery, but it has very little Star Primm, substance. It talks of preserving open Huntsville space and sensitive areas, and doing “clus- |