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Show Free Press - Wednesday, October 29, 1997 - Page 2 Opinion Don't 7 Lehi doesn't need growth limits Lehi doesn't need the controversial growth management initiative which was placed on Tuesday's municipal ballot by petition. Initiative 1 proposes to limit Lehi's growth by setting a cap on the number of residential homes constructed in the area at 3 percent of the number of existing homes each year. The initiative was prompted by the city's unprecedented growth in recent years certainly growth which would have astounded the commul founders of this nity. But growth has been standard for many of north Utah's. communities. Lehi has experienced the most from this growth because Lehi, with wide open borders to the north and west, has the most room to grow. Some think it is growing too much and too fast. Supporters of Initiative 1 say that the concerns of water, infrastructure demands and other potential dangers such as gangs and traffic are some of the results of continued development. Their solution is to limit the number of residential permits given in a year (147 for 1998) and establish a Residential Development Evaluation Board to decide which 147 building requests the city will approve next year. The initiative excludes single homes on single lots as well as commercial building, clearly aiming at the large residential developers. But the proposed Limitation on Residential Development in Lehi City goes too far. It ties the hands of the city's elected representatives by limiting growth to an arbitrary amount, rather than allowing the City Council to establish reasonable limits for growth. It also impinges on the rights of property owners by telling them what they can and cannot do with their land. In fact, Lehi City has already addressed many of the issues that prompted the growth limitation initiative. The city has established a comprehensive General Plan. It has updated the city's Development Code. And the market fluctuations that created the demand for housing in north Utah County in the first place have subsided, slowing growth to levels below those demanded by Initiative 1. But while the initiative is not needed to slow growth (that's already happened), it could have a negative impact on Lehi City. A message that Lehi voters are not interested in growth could have a negative impact on the city's growing commercial interests. New businesses might look elsewhere to locate, hurting the city's tax base and placing an inordinate proportion of the property tax burden on residential property taxpayers. That's why similar initiatives have been defeated in Midway and St. George, where the growth problems were much more acute than those experienced by Lehi City. Limiting growth may be a good goal. But Initiative 1 seeks to do what Lehi has already done, and would place arbitrary limits on growth at the expense of personal property rights. Lehi doesn't need it. Vote "No" on Initiative 1. once-rura- large-scal- e judge people by their book covers The book looked strangely out of place in the hands of the man sitting across from me on the bus. Large boots, abundant facial hair and a profusion of jewelry adorning and likely its the lobe I could see mate on the other side of his head made the man seem more of the and possibly even illiterate type. Obviously I shouldn't have been judging that human book by its cover, for the book he held in his hands was n written by a mainstream writer, in modern American literature. As I looked around the bus, I realized that I was probably wrong about the cleaner-cu- t young man toward the front of the bus, who was also reading. in (It seemed as if everyone Sacramento was reading, at least while I was there.) Who knows? Maybe the one whose outward appearance was more conventional was the one I should have worried about, instead of the one of whom I had been critical. n reader had Maybe the just returned from a session of and he took the bus as an iron-claalibi, while the grungier reader was simply going home after a long day at the factory to spend some quality time with his wife before taking his three children to the library for more books. I don't think very many people ride the bus in Utah, compared to Sacramento, and I think that considerably fewer of us read than what I saw last week. California's capital sports a light rail system as part of their transportation element, and I decided to try it out to get a feel for what is coming to Utah in the next few years. So, I purchased a day pass for $3 and walked through the neighborhood waiting for the next train, which, non-read- er well-know- clean-shave- d according to the schedule, should come into the area again within the next 15 minutes. I found a little bagel shop and a a ordered special garliconionsesame seedpoppy seed bagel dubbed The Works," with veggie cream cheese generously slathered on it and returned to the light rail stop. The train came right after I finished snack, and I boardmy ed the sleek new car bound for what was called Butterfield. In addition to watching the scenery outside the window, for I had no real destination except the end of the line, I observed the various and sundry commuters who were using the system for its intended purpose. A housewife across from me had either just finished a part-tim- e job or her daily shopping and was returning to her neighborhood; a sleepy old grandfather may have been going home from passing time downtown. At first, the younger people were obviously of college age, most of them with backpacks, the more scholarly ones actually using their down time studying textbooks. After a few stops, the public school-ag- e children boarded, and I wondered if the light rail system saves on transportation costs for the school districts and if the trains are convenient for the students. If we can achieve the same results with our own light rail system, perhaps there will be more support for the decision to go ahead, despite the vot- ers' expression of disapproval. Finally, as the afternoon passed, the working young adult crowd manifested itself. I have to admit here that I started being critical again when I couldn't help but hear one young woman with a loud voice brag about her experience in jail. She told her friends that, out of fear for his reaction, she stayed in jail for several days before calling her father to bail her out. (We are rather sheltered here in the shadows of the mountains, aren't we?) The train came to a stop in Butterfield, but I stayed on and rode it back, not just to where I had started, but to the other terminus. Talk about the wrong side of the I might have been uncomtracks fortable had it been the night train to Alkali Flat. One braggadocio laid out some sort of plan with another young man. Not having been into drugs at any point in my life, I could only assume that's were what discussing. they. Fortunately, they exited the car while we were still within the inner city and only the commuter crowd stayed on until the end. Despite the differences I noted while riding the light rail, I also discovered that we are all the same. I had to smile inwardly when I noticed a young woman board the train with her small child, who was dressed up as Baby Bop, obviously having just participated in a Halloween party at her day care center. Later, I not only smiled, but felt good about my fellow man when I saw man with a huge scar a leather-face- d across his chin smile at the sight of this same youngster. Finally, I returned to the downtown area and went right to a bookstore to buy myself a book so that I could be observed reading when I returned to Salt Lake the next day. If you can't judge 'em, join 'em. Keep those cards and letters coming, folks. We love them. surveys sent out with our prototype edition of New Utah! The comment urged us to "Please print all the letters you receive. I know you get them." Actually, we do try to print all the letters we get. And often we don't get very many. Right now the letters are coming in hot and heavy. Election time always prompts people to pick up a pen and write us a letter. And often during these times, there are more letters than we have space to print. But other times, letters are few and far between. Daily newspapers with large circulations have a subscriber base that generates lots of letters to the editor. But often we have weeks when no letters at all are submitted. It's either feast or famine. We really like getting letters to the editor, but the events of the past few weeks have raised some questions I'd like to address. Both have concerned me. Let me start by saying we think letters to the editor are important. The recent redesign of our editorial page was carried out with letters in mind, and in recent weeks we have eliminated personal columns in favor of printing more letters. Still, one local city council member recently complained that his rather-lon- g diatribe ended up in the letters section, where he felt no one would see it. Actually, we find this to be one of the most popular sections of the newspaper. These letters are well read. My first concern is comment on the My second concern was prompted by a phone call from someone who had submitted a letter in support of a position we had editorialized against in a recent issues. The feeling was that we would not run a letter with which we did not agree. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are three reasons we don't run a letter: It is not signto, it is libelous, or it are too long. If we have a glut of letters, as we have this week, we try to make extra spa e or we select a group of letters that re; resent the opinion of the letters we cvn't run. Letters nave to be signed, and they have to be signed by real people. We expect our letter writers to accept responsibility for their opinions. We will withhold a signature for a good reason, but it has to be a very good reason. Letters that are libelous jeopardize our newspaper as well as the letter writer. We can both be sued, so we have to be careful about that. Letters that are too long don't fit. There's not Enough room for a page typewritten letter in the newspaper. But lately I've gotten a plethora of just such letters. The politics of recent months have generated some of the longest, wordiest arguments I've ever heard. Frankly, short letters are much more effective. Especially if they make their point with punch and style. Read the letters to the editor in Time Magazine or Newsweek, and youH find they are all about two paragraphs long. That keeps them interesting, informative and allows three-and-a-ha- lf the magazine to run lots Of comments- - 1 We don't expect all letters to be one paragraph, but after a writer has written five paragraphs, he ought to ask if anyone out there will be interested in reading any more. The rule is, the shorter the better. We love your letters. We print all of them we can, and we don't leave anyone out just because we don't agree with them. This public forum is one of the most important services our weekly newspaper provides. The more letters you write, the better our paper is. Reader's Forum pollution, doubled traffic delays (in spite of the new highways), water supply and infrastructure deficiencies or, as one Tribune reporter put it, "Residents in a concrete maze filled with car fume haze." Governor Leavitt is the honorary of the partnership and he concludes that to deal with this dilemma, land use planning and growth management should be left to cities and counties. Without the state taking a strong role, responsibility is ours. Now for the good news, Lehi. It is timely good fortune that you have a growth management initiative on your November ballot. This comprehensive ordinance is the mechanism by which you can reign in your rampant, runaway growth and rescue your lovely community from being planned by developers, realtors and landowners whose only thought is of the almighty dollar. It is far superior to the initiative that was defeated in the Midway election of 1995, and for good reason. After being hit with approvals of more than 1000 units which will triple their population the citizens group had only three weeks to draw up an ordinance and circulate petitions before the deadline. They received more than three times the signatures needed and it nearly passed, even with four months of intense intimidation, threats and propaganda from the opposition. Today there is a great deal of regret in Midway. They know they blew their chance. On the other hand, the dedicated neighbors on your initiative team have been researching and consulting with experts for over two years before presenting their ordinance for your acceptance. With their long, tedious labor they've given you an instrument that is a road map that will guide Lehi to compatible, attractive growth that will be phased in at a rate that will not outstrip the city's services and infrastructure capabilities. At the same time, it's flexible enough to adjust to a cap- - Vandals ruin Halloween Editor: Well, it finally happened, the day I never thought I would see in Lehi. I have decorated my front porch for many years with handmade porch decorations (a Dracula, witch and pumpkin sign) and much to my dismay they were all stolen on be that desSunday. I didn't think anyone could perate for Halloween decorations.My faith in the community just went down the tubes with one thoughtless act. Whomever is responsible, thanks for ruining one of the funnest holidays of the year for me and my family. Toni Harris Editor's note: This letter ran last week, but the author's name was mispelled. We're sorry about that. Stop Lehi growth Editor: Citizens of Lehi, this should interest you: About a month ago, the Utah Quality Growth Partnership, a forum of business and governmental gurus, announced the results of a study. We were given a shocking glimpse into the Greater Wasatch Area. future of the In a Sept. 17 front page Tribune article, the group predicted, with continued unbridled growth, the region from Brigham City to Nephi would become a megalopolis with 2.7 million people by the year 2020. That's double in just 25 years. By 2050, the population would jump to five million, in the process consuming more than half of the remaining farmland in greater Wasatch, after the million acres of tillable soil lost since 1967. The study paints a sordid picture of stifling ?Eeli Wxn ftes ISSN No. 8750-466U.S.P.S. No. 309-509 A 0 member of Published weekly by ..Tie Aew(alijews f 'roupt..t1 IHAtLVT' NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION 59 West Main American Fork, Utah 84003 See more letters on page 4 ital improvement or adequate facilities program. Property rights and a stable real estate market is ensured for all, including the forgotten majority, the townspeople. Their property values depreciate near high density projects. You can really help city hall officials perform much better by handing them this tool. In the operation past there has been a revolving-doo- r where developers enter one side and emerge from the other in short order with an approval of what get in and get out, fast buck they requested development. d landownReputable builders and ers prefer a steady, predictable scenario with constant profits across the board. Your initiative will be opposed by the former who want the status quo business as usual. The statistical facts of recent years show that the city planners and council can't stand up to the pressure themselves. From 1988 to 1991 a total of 205 permits were issued. Over the next 33 months no less than 1055 permits went out the door, an increase of over 400 percent over the previous 48 months. Add to that thousand of acres of raw land annexed for future growth without even knowing what's to be built thereon, an irresponsible practice. boom and Guess who's paying for this all of the downsides that go with it? By now it is common knowledge in Utah that residential growth does not pay for itself, that for every dollar that is collected in revenue, $1.30 to $1.40 is spent for services by municipalities. With unbridled growth the difference is even greater because of costly catch-u- p purchasing and bond- & News Managing City Editor Editor Russ Daly 5 p.m. Monday. 2 p.m. Missionaries Monday. 2 p.m. Weddings Monday. Second class postage paid at American Fork, Utah Letters to Editor I would like to briefly address the Bond issue up on the Nov. 4 ballot. I do NOT want increased taxes or any increases to the tune of $12 a month. Most of the information I have read believe that estimate is too low. I would have to agree. And why was it put on the ballot at the last minute? The $12 figure may cover construction costs but what about maintanence, staffing, and we as citizens will still have to pay to use the facilities! I can use my $144.00 a year for season tickets to the SCERA, (movies, plays, concerts, etc) or to any one of the multiple fitness facilities located 10 miles or less from us (that's 10 minutes, too). I don't want to spend $144 per year to then pay another $300 to $400 a year on top of that to use it! Vote "No" on Nov. 4th, then let's discuss it, properly explore all the options and e. John Somerville Calendar the Editor Obituaries received We welcome letters to the editor. Tuesday, noon Monday, Advertising Community Postmaster: send address change to 59 West Main, American Fork. Utah 84003 Advertising News Subscription price S24: per year bond issue It simply boils down to this. Some of your Deadlines Display Bezzant Marc Haddock Brett Publisher Vote no on ing. Classified Circulation and it's all anonymously. This governor has said you must help yourselves, so help yourselves by voting in the initiative, for your family, your kids and your kids' kids. Preserve their quality of life and sense of place. It will more than likely be your last chance. Countless cities and towns around the country have successfully adopted and use similar planning ventures. Now it's your turn. Joe Morgan Midway civic-minde- Telephone Numbers Advertising neighbors have put a lot of the time and sweat in this citizens' initiative and are taking the heat for you and your families. Don't let them down. Your vote can send a strong message to your leaders (printed AND signed) and tters for clarity, punctuation, 10 a m. Monday. 10 a.m. Tuesday. 11am All letters must include the author's name a telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letaste and length. Letters are welcome on any topic. HOW TO REACH US 2pm Monday. By Mail P.O. Box 7, American Fork. UT 84003 In 59 W. Main, via Person American Fork By Fax 756-527- 4 By newtahaol.com |
