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Show KT - 2 Tuesday, September I Lakeside Review LAKESIDE 22. 1998 Blight concerns residents Farmington residents gather for meeting on RDA zone By SUSAN TANNER HOLMES Standard-Examin- correspondent - Is FarFARMINGTON mington Citys downtown area blighted? More than 300 residents packed the city council room for a public hearing sponsored jointly by the Farmington Redevelopment Agency and the Farmington City council. The presentation by the citys RDA consultant and RDA attorneys told residents that well over 50 percent of the properties surveyed had one from of blight or another. The RDA survey is being used as a tool by the city council to find ways to clean up the downtown and fund Farmingtons downtown master plan. At the first of the year the city hired Randy Sant of RS Consultants to begin the process surrounding the designating of a potential blight survey area. Utah State code is very strict in how RDA zones are designated and the procedures that must be followed. Residents were concerned that the blight designation that would be attached to the area would lower property values and change already existing zones. The designation will do neither. Property values will not go down in an RDA and the values of the properties next to an RDA Master plan step closer to reality Standard-Examin- correspondent FARMINGTON - Farmingtons 1995 downtown master plan is one step closer to becoming a reality. Property owners located within a potential Redevelopment Agency survey area were given a chance to express their views and ask questions at a public hearing before Farmingtons RDA board and the city council. RDA board members, who are also the members of the city council and the city manager, hired the RDA consulting firm of RS Consultants earlier this year to study the downtown area and draw up a potential blight" in Farmingtons downtown. Residents and council members have been worrying over the erosion of the downtown area for years, but in 1995 the concerns increased, which caused the city to develop a downtown master plan. Current development trends such as shifting businesses, business relocations, and the deterioration of the many historical buildings are the focus of the RDA survey. Today three of the main downtown blocks along Slate street are in transition. The old post office building will be vacant and the city is trying to locate a new post office downtown but is having land acquisition problems. The old Maverick gas station is vacant and if land for expansion cant be found for the grocery store, Farmington may be without a downtown neighborhood store. The downtown master plan cited six purposes and goals: Building on the strengths of downtown Cancer From 1 Brad Johansen said he is on disability and his wife, Melanie Johansen, was diagnosed with epilepsy in April. Alex has a twin sister, sister, Abigail, a brothMariah, and a er, Jason. Both the DeMeyers and the Johansens said when they heard about the benefit planned for their sons they could not believe it because they have received so much help from their neighbors already: meals brought in, babysitting done so they could spend time with their sons in the hospi- - tial downtown, walkable downtown, Farmington canyon and Farmington stone. Protecting existing business and residential uses. Removing obstacles to businesses and new development. Capturing the unique character and identity of the town. Creating a plan and principles for future decision making. Meeting the citizens expectations through an inclusive public process. Redevelopment areas raise many concerns and are to be used carefully and sparingly, said Mayor Gregory S. Bell. Weve been able to clean up one hot spot where the Davis County School Districts new building is now standing through some creative financing rather than a RDA. Farmington City financed the construction of the building and acquisition of the property for the school district building. It is a wonderful partnership. We have come a long way and yet we are not where we want to be. The reason for considering and using the RDA designation of an area, said Bell, is as a funding source, to assemble property for a new post office, to help keep a grocery store downtown, and to establish a certain street scape for our city. Another thing an RDA can do to help property owners is its authority of condemnation. If a property owner must sell his property under threat of condemnation, the property owner may reinvest the money with tax credits. This is an im fourth-grader- 1 it. Ga-trcl- al grams. From should not, under any circuming a total disaster," said Jerry stances, lose the grocery store or Preston, who owns property in the post office from down town," the survey area. said Bell. We need to clean up I object to the tail end of my our five way intersection. We agency has no taxing authority." being in the study. I obclean the property to able been have be up must Any zoning changes I present no reason for and new ject school where the and hot manner in the made spot regular l. said Wallace is my objection, now stands. It district building go through the planning and zonbetween wonderful a partnership ing. the school district and the city in The issue of blight is a sensiI favor improving property tive area, said Bell. Blight is a finding a way to finance the values, said Michael Sundwall, building. We have come a long legal term to describe properties. property owner. Creating a RDA is a way of way, but we are not yet where we keeping the down town an alive, want to be." Ive lived in my house for 55 The city is hopeful the RDA working, living situation. said Zelda Tidwell, resiyears," designation of blight will help dent in the survey area. "Ive We have four major downtown buildings that re going to them in putting together a prop- wanted curb and gutter but my be vacant. Thank heaven we have erty package for the post office neighbors wouldnt vote for it. which will keep the post office I've wanted downtown improvea mayor who has enough forelook for to alternatives," downtown on the comer of 100 ments as long as Ive lived here. I sight said David Dixon, city council East and State Street, build behind dont care what There are specific things state me if its clean. you member. I commend you City council concerns centered law requires we do at these pubfor what you are trying to do." on the block which now houses lic hearings, said Sant. This is The city has a large scale map the Post Office; the block directly one of the few municipal tools a across the street to the west, city has to guide development defining the proposed area at the which is the home of the grocery and address the problems in the city offices for viewing. Specific store; and the block west of that, downtown area. I have not seen information about individual which is home to a construction where creating a RDA has negaproperties and their blight" descompany. The three block area tively impacted an area." ignations is available to property We are very concerned about owners. between State Street and 100 North from 100 West to 200 East preserving the historic buildings The city council will now in the downtown area si seeing in our down town and hopefully building deterioration, lack of we can use RDA funds to do study the project area proposal and at a meeting on Oct. 7, 1998, curb and gutter, vacant buildings this, said Pat Achter, city counand commercial uses such as cil member. We want a down- will adopt a Blight Project Artown that is viable and alive, and ea." The meeting will be at the serving as the work lot of a construction company. And to the we dont want to turn it into a city offices, 130 N. Main. section described as the brick strip mall." Once the area is designated, a Its all about bringing people oven area is being considered in second public hearing will be the project to help restore and downtown," said Bell. Id like to applaud your ef- held. Property owners in the desmaintain an historical building forts as a city council in looking ignated area will be notified of on the lot. the public hearing. The Master Plan said the city ahead. I dont look at this as be and Farmington such as: Historic, ruralagri-culturcharacter, the Davis County seat, in stitutional downtown core, a market, residen- ing. Arts will go up, too, said Sant. You will not see a tax increase as a reason of the RDA, said Gregory S. Bell. The RDA By SUSAN TANNER HOLMES atSecondary teachers may tend a Shakespearean workshop from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. in the districts Kendell build- Brown will spend a majoritj !' of her time with said Peggy Henderson, fourilt grade teacher and chairwomafi for the schools program this year. Hety derson said her school has des cided to target fourth-grader- s each year for the artist pro; portant tax tool to help the downtown property owners." Residents attending the hearing were most concerned that labeling their properties with the blight designation could lower property values. This is not the case say the experts. "Blight is a very strict technical term," said Randy Sant, of the firm of RDA specialists, RS Consultants. Property values will hot go down in an RDA," they will go up and the values of the properties located next to an RDA will go up, too. Gary Jones, an associate of RS Consultants, who performed the survey, has been doing RDA surveys for 30 years. He testified that the downtown survey area includes 14.63 acres which includes 42 separate parcels. Fifty percent of the properties must be designated as blighted" to qualify for the RDA project. Jones survey analysis shows the citys proposed survey mapped area far exceeds the minimum. Jones' analysis revealed the properties in the area, on the whole, had the following blight" designations: many irregular foms and shapes, buildings showed deterioration and decline, with some buildings being unsafe and unfit to occupy, and lack of infrastructure such as sidewalks or utilities. The city council accepted the survey and public input without making a decision on the matter. They will meet on Oct. 7, 998, to define the blight project area. Once the project area is defined, a second public hearing will be held. Property owners in the defined blight project area can view the proposed survey and have questions answered at the Farmington City offices, 130 N. Main, Farming-toUT 84025. -3 Mavin said all participants must Teachers interested in registering for the inservice training or may call Mavin at her department at In addition to the teacher training, Irwin announced funding for five Davis schools this year for artist in residence programs paid jointly by the Utah Arts Council and the Utah State Office of Education. Those schools include Lay-to- n High, Bountiful, Reading, West Bountiful and Cook elementary schools. One of the most unique programs will feature a Native American artist from Tuba, Ariz., who was raised on a reservation in northern Arizona. Vanessa Brown will visit Bountiful Elementary School and teach students March Native American songs and dances and share some of the foods served in her culture. 451-11- 451-110- 1. 8-- Sign From 1 Scouting regulations require that Bitter do all the planning and organizational work, requesting help when needed along the way. He has kept a journal detailing hours invested, the work of fellow Scouts, and successes and challenges. There were a lot of difficulties planning the dimensions and figuring out what the (city) ordinances would allow, Bitter said. Ill be glad to have it finished. But it helped out my leadership skills and planning. Thats what the Eagle projects for - having learned from my experiences, Ill be more prepared for my life in the future. With the drafting and organizational work accomplished in the Eagle project, that future could include a career in However, Bitter is also active music and art and hasnt made any definite plans. Glen Bouy, Bitters former Scout leader, said Bitter would be 100 percent dependable and responsible no matter what the task. in sports, fund-raise- r, contact Luke at likely will rs ex- two-wee- son said. j Brown, who is known nationally as a consultant, lecturer and founder of a national publica- tion called Stars of the Desert, already taught representatives of Bountiful Elementary a lesson about her culture. He warned Bitter a year ago that the sign project was a major one but had confidence in Bitters ability. He estimated that Bitter and his Scouts would have logged more than 100 service hours on the project by its completion. Scouts always seemed to come up with unique, beneficial Eagle projects for communities, Buoy said. Other projects he had seen involved collecting toys for orphanages, creating awareness organ-don- and building furniture for the needy. An existing wood welcome sign on 1000 West in Syracuse I was built as an Eagle scout I project several years ago, I. Moyes said. Bitter may have started a trend. Syracuse officials have two other sites staked out on 2700 South and 2000 West for similar welcome signs that may need builders, Moyes said. just hope everybody likes Bitter said. I wanted to. do something that would last a long time and do my pari to make my city a better place. I it, Contact reporter Aim Prav at : 776-495- Information on Business Opportunities for Women in the State of Utah, in the Fashion Industry. n, Come see the great Fashions of "Multiples & Hear the President of the Company speak. Sat. September 26th 3:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel Downtown Salt Lake City For More Information Call It just amazed me. There is such an outpouring of love for these two little boys. It is unbelievable. Pam (Luke) has taken this thing and just ran with it. It is something they wanted to do. We didnt ask them to do it, Brad Johansen said. For more information on the Fourth-grade- perience Native American culture firsthand when they celebrate a powwow at the end of k their daily lessons Brown will teach them, Hender- 1 tal, their lawns mowed and their homes cleaned. I don't know how to thank them. I didnt realize how many friends we had. Its just amazing how many people have come out of the woodwork to help us, Stacie DcMeyer said. The reason we chose this particular artist is that our curriculum is almost completely about Utah, she said, explaining that science and social studies lessons throughout the yetfr focus on Utah archaeology and history. Much of it is about thp original people who were here native to our area. Remember - Preventive Maintenance Works and can save you money! Washington Federal Savings Git Your The human touch TRANSMISSION HJNE-U- P Today! 825-148- 5. Layton Expert 779-011- 1 S3? 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