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Show Volume XIV Issue XVIII The Ogden Valley news Page December 1, 2007 Guest Commentaries Powder Mountain Rezone a Concern Representative Froerer Addresses Open Residents of Ogden Valley will face also points out that road conditions change significant changes in their lifestyle if quickly and create accidents due to black Space and Property Taxes Issues the Powder Mountain rezone petition is ice and heavy snowfalls. I would like to personally thank Ms. Kirsten Healey of Eden for her recent letter to this paper regarding property taxes, open space, and the quality of life here in the Valley. As a person who was born in Ogden Valley, and one that has seen many changes to the valley during that period of time, I could not agree more that preserving our quality of life in the Valley must be a priority. At the same time, preservation and protection of private property rights is just as important today as it was back in the 1950’s. Preservation of open space and access to public lands has been, and always will be, high on my priority list, and I agree with Ms. Healey that placing a tax on long time or short term residents that have land is not fair. I believe that open space benefits us all, locals and visitors alike. Therefore, it seems logical that we should all help pay for it rather than place an additional property tax burden on a select few landowners. This past year, for example, I was able to secure a State funded grant in the amount of $20,000 for use by Ogden Valley Pathways to improve the trail system in Ogden Valley. State grants are paid out of the general fund, which is funded by the sales or consumption tax. That is why I am an advocate of the “LeRay McAllister Fund” that is managed by the State for the purpose of working with private landowners in the acquisition of lands for the preservation of open space. Fellow Valley resident and former State Rep. Haynes Fuller Larry Zini, was a key player and advocate for the VCRD Chairman McAllister fund, and we should all thank Huntsville him for the existence of this great source of funding for the protection of open space. The McAllister fund provides grants to communities and organizations to conserve In the November 15, 2007 issue of The Ogden Valley news, the historical photo or restore private, critical lands that are of an LDS church group circa 1890 named Minnie Fackrell as one of the children in deemed important to the community. The the photo. The name should have read Minnie Farrell. fund administered by the Quality Growth Gary Nate should have been given photo credit for the Snowbasin Masquerade on the Mountain Halloween photos. approved by the county. This rezone change, coming for a vote before the Ogden Valley Planning Commission on November 27 at 4:30 p.m. will have a profound impact on the character and future look of Ogden Valley. Valley residents must consider that all vehicle traffic to and from a Powder Mountain resort will have to pass through Ogden Canyon, or over Trappers Loop or the North Divide. It will then funnel from those points to the single two-lane road up to Powder Mountain (State Road 158). According to the traffic study presented by Fehr & Peers Transportation Consultants at the October 23 OVPC meeting, the Powder Mountain road cannot be made significantly wider, and the numerous steep grades (up to 13 percentplus grade in sections) cannot be eliminated or reduced. Runaway turnouts for heavy equipment and trailers that may lose their brakes are also not an option according to UDOT. Their only proposal was to install warning signs about the steep grades. It was also suggested that several stoplights be installed in the Valley to help with traffic flows. The safety issues regarding Powder Mountain Road are daunting and should not be minimized. With the numerous steep grades involved, and the predicted increased usage, runaway vehicles on the icy and snowy roads would be disastrous as many previous severe accidents already indicate. There is no escape for a large truck or bus coming down the road that starts to slide on slick pavement. Eden resident Steve Clarke who is active in several Valley planning organizations, has stated in his safety study that 76% of all crashes on Powder Mountain Road were running off the side of the road, most coming downhill with speed and weather as the main factors. Clarke The project manager for Powder Mountain has projected resort usage at over 10,000 people a day, along with heightened vehicle use during holidays and weekends. Residents should consider the impact of these cars and buses inching along SR 158 through the Valley Market intersection and past the Wolf Creek resort area. There could be a continuous line of vehicles winding to the top of Powder Mountain. The Powder Mountain rezone also calls for the construction of two 18-hole golf courses; thus, additional traffic will not be limited to the winter ski months. There are fewer than 100 units on the mountain today. Under the zoning now in effect, any development would be restricted to less than 1,500 units. However, under the new rezone petition, 2,800 units would be constructed on the Weber County side of the mountain and another 900 on the Cache County side. Access to all areas for construction and resort use—for all 3,700 units—would be from Powder Mountain Road; thus, through Ogden Valley! In addition, the 2,800 units proposed for development in Weber County will overwhelm the density plans for Ogden Valley, and will open the door for other developers to expect similar rezone petitions to be approved. Valley Citizens for Responsible Development (VCRD) asks that all residents and members carefully consider these points. Contact the county planning commission and Weber County commissioners with your thoughts or concerns via email, telephone, or letter. The time to act is now! Corrections -- Public Notice -A Liberty Cemetery 2008 Budget Draft Meeting will be held December 4, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at 4694 N. 2900 E., Liberty, UT. The Liberty Cemetery & Liberty Park 2008 Budget Approval Public Hearing will be held December 11, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at Snowcrest Jr. High. Commission was able to fund close to 18 projects this past year. One project funded this year will provide funds for trail corridor acquisition for Weber Pathways. I will, again this year, be asking for larger increases to the McAllister fund, and would encourage your support in the form of emails or calls to other legislators asking for their support. As many of you know, I have been actively working on several potential solutions to the property tax dilemma in Ogden Valley and other parts of our state. I personally believe this is the year that the State must address a more equitable property tax policy. During the October Tax and Revenue Committee meeting over 20 ideas were discussed to address this issue. I have pre-filed, or am working on committee, legislation that I believe will improve our policy for those hit hardest by the huge increases in property values. Several areas of potential legislation are presented below: 1. Require counties to use a 5 year rolling average for assessment values. This would help eliminate the spikes that we have seen the past couple of years. This could be tied to a maximum increase in assessment value for any given year. 2. Allow the “State sponsored 45% exemption to be applied on land and improvements” for a primary residence regardless of lot size. Presently the exemption is capped to the first one acre of land which results in many Valley residents paying more on land that is can not be subdivided. This is an idea brought to my attention by valley resident, Keith Smith. 3. Replace a portion of the local property tax that is used by schools by an equal share of taxes from another source, i.e., sales tax. The message is clear that we must continue to fund public schools but we must find a way to do that without creating a large burden on certain segments of our COMMENTARY cont. on page 17 CHRISTMAS CAROL “SING IN” Traditional, favorite, familiar carols -SUNG BY THE AUDIENCE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2007 OGDEN TABERNACLE, 21 Street & Washington Blvd. 7:00 p.m. FREE Admission. All are invited. Bailey’s Christmas Trees Guest Conductor, Karen Brookens Potter Have a family Horse Drawn Sleigh Ride, thru the woods to buy a perfect fresh cut Organist, Christmas Tree. Lowell Marriott Harrop * Sleigh ride free with purchase of a tree! * Complimentary hot chocolate will warm you. Weekdays by appointment Saturdays Open 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Male Vocal Group, T Minus 5 Lowell Marriott Harrop Follow the signs from Liberty Park in Liberty, Utah 1/2 mile west them 1/ mile south to the end of the road. 908 N. 00 E. Eugene Bailey Farm For more information call 791-1545 or 745-6639 T-Minus 5 |
