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Show 1 Public hearings: explained By DONETA LAYTON A person could live comfortubly their entire life without ever altending a public hearing. This shouldnt happen. Public hearings are the methods cities have for getting citizen input on important decisions such as zoning changes, subdivisions, con- ditional uses, and city master plans, l.ayton City requires a public hearing before approving a new mobile home park. The stale law requires cities to public notification 15 days to a hearing in a newspaper with general circulation in the area. give prior After many years of waiting, Laytons new library started to see the light of day, Aug. million facility. Participating in the festivities were: Dr. Charles Parker, Davis County library board chairman, left, looks on as the County commissioner Glen Saunders turns the first shovel full of dirt. He was assisted by library director Jeanne Layton, Layton Mayor Richard McKenzie and Layton was broken for the 18, as ground $1 councilman Bob Stevenson. Library construction starts By DONETA GATHERUM LAYTON This day has finally come after a long period of waiting, Charles Park, chairman of the Davis County library board, commented as he opened the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Layton branch of the Davis County Library system last week. The shortness of the 20 minute ceremony was a drastic contrast to the length of time it has taken for the county to begin construction of a library in Layton. n The story goes back many years to when a branch library was moved from Layton to well-know- Clearfield. Later, Layton City withdrew from the county system and investigated the feasibility of building an independent library. About a year and a half ago an agreement was reached for Layton to re-joi- the county library n i c .1 I' Hawthorne and Lancer and $746,226 that had accumulated in a library fund that was started when Layton withdrew city-hel- d from the county system. Estimated costs of the branch library are $ million. 1 County Commissioner Glen Saunders commented, Some- times things with great numbers of hurdles to overcome are most appreciated. He noted the opportunity to have a library in Layton was because of the planning of the city council and a change in the economy. Com. Saunders said he was looking forward to next year when we open the library doors. Mayor Richard McKenzie told the crowd of over 100 that books are important in our lives. He said everyone in attendance should Layton Elementary extended day schedule outlined This year Layton Elementary School will enter into an extended day program which will provide some exciting changes. The bus schedules and class lists for the 1987-8- 8 school year will be posted on the school windows during this week. If you have any questions please feel free to phone the school at Following is a time schedule: 7:45 a.m., school starts 1st session and 1st session kindergarten; 9:15 a.m., school starts 2nd session; 10:20 a.m., 1st session of kindergarten goes home; 1:30 a.m.; 2nd session of kindergarten begins; 2 p.m., 7:45 a.m. kids go home and 2nd session of kindergarten goes home; 3:30 p.m., 9: 15 a.m. kids go home. Reminder, Monday, Aug. 31 is the first day of school. 546-790- ! system. The city donated a library site near the Layton Commons Park at 8. 1 take personal satisfaction that the I hope we library will be built. wear it out through use, the mayor concluded. The groundbreaking was attended by an impressive number of people who had contributed in some way to the establishment of this branch library. All members of the Layton City Council, the mayor and representatives from the city staff attended. Members of the county commission and the county library board were there. Russell Davis, state librarian, and Jerry Meyer, librarian for the Layton branch, represented the professional library community. Chamber of Commerce President Michael Hadley and Chamber s Executive Director Jack stood alongside many downtown Layton merchants, including Ralph Firth and John Morgan of the First National Bank, Bud Willey of the Fort Lane Shopping Center and Robert Hales of Canyon Office Supply. The groundbreaking was especially signficant to Lynn Wood, former Layton city councilman and member of the Lay'.on library committee; Oma Wilcox, Layton Library committee member and major advocate for a Layton library and Nathaniel Johnson, a private citizen who has followed the library controversary for many years giving recommendations to the city and county leaders on numerous occasions. Evan former chairman of the county library board and a Layton resident, viewed the ceremony with interest. Representatives from the construction side of the project were Douglas Todd of Todd and Associates who designed the building and Layne Wadman of Wadman construction, the project general White-side- White-side- life-lon- g s, Written notices are placed on the buiding where the hearing will be conducted Layton City, as a matter of courtesy, notifies all property owners within 300 feet of the proposed change at least eight days prioi to the hearing. A conditional use permit is granted when a use would be harmonious with its surroundings but can only qualify to be constructed in a ccitain zone under special circumstances A good example is a church in a residential area. Conditional use proposals arc regulated in many ways including height of the building, landscaping, building materials, traffic pattern, signs, maintenance free features and most important compatability but he does not vote on the proposal. Usually, a representative from the requestor" or developer speaks and briefly explains the request. This is followed by statements from the citys community development director. The mayor then asks for comments or questions from the general public. Sometimes several individuals will speak "for" or "against the proposal. A group will within the zone. Once a conditional use permit is issued it stays in effect as long as the standards imposed are maintained. Most public hearings .ire conducted to consider zoning changes and new subdivisions Much work is done before the hearing takes place. First, the person requesting the change files a petition amending the zoning map or the text of the zoning ordinance. A fiilng fee of $150 is paid. In a commercial zone a specific plan must be submitted. After a review and recommendations are made by the city professional staff-cit- y planners, fire department, city engineer and public works director the proposal goes to the seven member planning commission. This body includes one city council member who does not vote. The planning commission is not have a spokesman give the feelings of the group both verballv and in a written form. After the mayor feels enough discussion has been generated to give everyone a solid understanding of the proposal, he asks for a motion from the council. If a zoning change is denied the requestor must wait 12 months before filing a new petition so the change can again be considered. Councilman Bob Stevenson has been a part of many public hearings during his 5 Vi years on the Layton City Council. He believes the public hearing system has value. Ninety percenty of the time 1 have an open mind when the public hearing starts. What happens at the hearing helps all council members he make a proper decision, states. Councilman Kent Smith agrees. He says his ideas of a public hearing has changed greatly since he has been a city councilman. Most people dont realize how much work goes into the decision making before the public hearing. This hearing is just the culmination of a long process, Both councilmen say their decision is based on the over-al- l effect the proposed change will have on the community of Layton. Ive been here all of my life and I dont want change isnt a valid argument, Councilman Smith notes. Citizens need to present reasons why the change shouldn't occur other than simply 1 dont want to change," he concludes. Councilman Stevenson agrees with this philosophy. Many decisions impacts one or two people adversely that will benefit most of the community. When this happens, I will vote for a proposal that will help the most," he explains. All citizens want to live with open fields next to them and without apartments but this is not a legitimate approach. Mr. Stevenson says the most effective citizen presentations at a public hearing are those that have facts written down and are presented by a fluent, unemotional spokesman in an orderly fashion. He also believes an effective way for citizens to make their feelings known is to contact council members individually before the public hearing. Mr. Smith says the biggest problem with citizen imput at public hearings is that the statements are emotional rather than factual. This often goes against the citizen. When arguments are valid and make sense, a citizen can sway council members," he notes. Whether a person is for or a proposal or just against "wants to observe," a public hearing is part of our democratic system. The September 3 hearing to consider a zoning ordinance in Layton City is an ideal opportunity for citizens to attend a council meeting and learn how city government works. Next week: the landscape and fencing requirements of the proposed zoning ordinance. Deadline For Baby Photos Wed. 6 P.M. 1 Mr. Smith observes. Week Before Publication NOW YOUVE GOT MADE. MAKE MORE IT OF IT. Now that First National Bank has committed itself to be a rate leader, let your deposits earn even more by receiving our highest competitive deposit rates. With the strength of our sound capital base and 100,000 F.D.I.C. insurance, you can be sure, as people have been for over 80 years, that your deposits are safe, sound and secure. i 1 an elected body. They cannot change a zone or approve a subdivision. They make a recommendation to the city council. It is not necessary to hold a public hearing before the planning commission. The proposed Layton zoning ordinance wouuld allow for public notification when the planning commission considers major changes. The public could learn much about the proposal by attending a planning commission meeting. Some individuals may be allowed to speak to the planning commission about the proposal. When the proposal gets to this stage much information has been compiled. This is arranged into a packet" and copies are given to the mayor and council members prior to the public hearing. The Mayor conducts the hearing Not: This is the third in a series of articles dealing with Laytons proposed new riming ordinance and master plan map. k i GATHERUM 1 is. ; f THE FIRST NATIONAL lavto SINCE 1905 O Dovi September K A rz DEED m 5th-13t- h 2:00 p.m. -- 9:00 p.m. See us at... 350 E. Pages Lane, Centerville for tickets, days and hours of parade The Davis County Home Builders Present "Your Future Today; thirteen exciting properties around o t South Davis County. Future I0' Info-Lin- 350-392- e ed Davis County 4 by Clipper rank |