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Show NOVEMBER at Met 1995 atte) Midway Residents to Vote on Growth Cap VWs referendum aimed at slowing growth in Midway has divided this small, historic town in western Heber Valley. Midway residents will vote in November whether growth should be to a 3 percent increase If passed, the 3 percent growth cap would mean that only 15 new ple to death,” single family homes or condominiums, could be built each year. said one resident, who wished not to be named. “They are putting out a lot of misinformation. Some 407 Midway residents per year. signed But large landowners and others have been taking out full-page ads in the local newspaper threatening law and July to have the measure placed on the municipal ballot, said Joe Morgan, a referendum a petition petition in June organizer. residential “We units, are whether figuring on they are a conserva- tive basis three people per unit,” Morgan explained. “That’s 45 people a year.” Presently the population of Midway is about 1,500. But city offi- cials have recently approved about 1,000 new housing units. That, says Morgan, would triple the size of the town. Even though Midway has been historically a farming community, most of the recent buidling approvals have been for condominium or multifamily dwellings, rather than traditional single-family houses. moratorium on development, ow in place to study how infrastructures, cope Construction > ovate Saree Residents j y e Me f \ \ j } Be | Zi} EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY j ote | Ys M “ Other Loans available include; FHA, VA, 203K, Conventional and Utah Housing. Please come in today and visit with a friendly real estate professional in our Mortgage Loans department. Visit our new Park City branch located in the Park City Plaza at 1890 Bonanza Drive, or call 649-6622. have long-time Incumbent Wis MOUNTAIN MORTGAGE AMERICA LOANS Your partner in FINANCIAL FITNESS™ 14 voiced concern that residents don’t want limits on their ability to develop or sell their land. With the price of land increasing dramatically in Heber Valley, large land owners are poised to develop what has historically been pastureland. They have called the referendum “immoral” and “unconstitutional.” B: Morgan explained the proposed growth cap won't take away property rights. “It doesn’t take away property rights or building approvals. It just slows the pace of growth.” Exceptions to the growth cap include building on vacant lots on already developed streets and development of single housing units on parcels greater than five acres. City Councilwoman Marilyn Larsen was defeated in the primary election, she said, because she was in favor of growth limits. Developers and land owners organized to campaign against growth limits and those who support them, she said. “They have got it around that we are trying to strangle growth,” Larsen said. The issue has divided the town, Larsen said, even though a majority of residents don’t own large tracts of land. PAGE can housing the tax burden from large developments could drive up property taxes locally. All this has left deep divisions in the town concerning growth. While newer arrivals want to slow growth, under one root. yy ] While cutting J : @ / lumber for your ———“new home, you can now cut costs by keeping your loans all under one roof. Mountain America Mortgage is now offering a full 1/2% off your origination fee when both your construction and long term loans are financed at the same time. sewer, projects. Member N.C A and planned in November. Many residents believe boomtown growth will not only change the way Midway looks, but will impact schools and other infrastructures like roads and water systems. many coos the expires Several months ago, the Midway City Council refused to adopt the language outlined in the referendum. That followed months of meetings where the council was criticized roundly for approving several large LOANS All like water with increase, > limited suits against the municipality, if the referendum passes. “They have been scaring the peo- @ |