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Show Volume XXIII Issue XVII The Ogden Valley news Page 11 February 15, 2016 Frequently Asked Questions for Liberty Woman Opens Home Salon Jenn Snoke Valdez the coupon found in this issue of T O Mixed-Use Development n on page 6 to receive 25% off your has opened a new hair V salon in Liberty—La first service.” he alley Why are townhomes part of Huntsville’s proposed village project? According to numerous state and national studies, people are becoming increasingly interested in housing variety. Many people desire to live in walkable communities close to their place of work and other amenities. Mixed-use development provides a suitable place for people to both live and work in a desirable location. Commercial and residential uses together create a symbiotic relationship that helps ensure the viability of a development project and work to create greater revenues for the community than either would produce separately. If this mixed-use development is approved, will it affect zoning throughout Huntsville? No. This mixed-use will fall under a Specific Development Plan (SDP) Overlay zone. According to Huntsville Town Ordinance 15.29, the purpose of an overlay zone is, “to encourage imaginative and efficient utilization of land, to develop a sense of community, and to ensure compatibility with the surrounding neighborhoods and environment.” Huntsville town counsel’s vote for a SDP Overlay zone will affect only the one-acre property on which the village is placed. All other commercial and residential zoning in town will remain unchanged. SDP Overlay zones can only be applied to commercial property, and each overlay zone must be approved through a lengthy approval process similar to the process the current proposal is undergoing. Will the village generate more traffic in town? Yes, the village will generate a modest increase in downtown traffic. The traffic generated will by the proposed village will less than the traffic of the former elementary school, and negligible compared to the 35,000 vehicles that currently drive to Cemetery Point for recreation each summer. Additionally, In studies released by the American Planning Association and Sonoran Institute, mixed-use developments are shown to generate 30-35% less vehicular traffic than nonmixed-use developments with the same amenities. Will the townhomes in the project be party homes? No. The townhomes in the mixed-use development will be sold to families and established individuals. Each homeowner will have to agree to abide by strict covenants, conditions and restrictions enforced by the development’s homeowners association. Certain design elements in mixed-use developments have been shown to reduce crime. The Townhomes will also be under the same restrictions as every other residence in Huntsville. They cannot be used as vacation rentals by owner. Will a mixed-use village be harmful to the environment? Because mixed-use development developments are consolidated, they require less valuable land and resources than sprawling commercial or residential developments. Through smart design Mixed-use developments share infrastructure, making them more energy efficient than alternatives. Concerns about health have been raised over planned fireplace features within the village. These are gas fireplaces that burn the same natural gas most people use in their home furnaces. Data released by the EPA found that natural gas features produce up to 99% less fine particulate emissions than wood fire pits. What about the idea that condos don’t belong in Huntsville? Some individuals opposed to the mixed-use project have fixated their argument on the idea that “condos” don’t belong in Huntsville. The town homes planned in the mixed-use village will not be inexpensive or low-income apartments like those seen across the Wasatch Front. Condominium is a generic term that provides little indication of the character of a development. Those opposing this project have said they don’t take issue with the businesses in the concept—only the residences. The businesses in the project will part of a condominium association just as the townhomes. Why the double standard? Why are commercial condominium units appropriate while residential condominium town homes are not? Condominium associations are designed to enforce a development’s covenants, conditions, and restrictions. They allocate funds for maintenance, and collect the association fees that each owner pays for building, insurance and community maintenance. What is wrong with added protection and funding to keep properties orderly, and well maintained? What about other ideas for the property? Over the past eight years, individuals have come forth in public meetings with numerous ideas for the former Valley Elementary School property. These ideas include single-family dwellings, an assisted living center, a church, a community recreation center/ swimming pool, a hotel, offices, and park. These options have been thoroughly examined by Huntsville’s leaders. These ideas bring a variety of benefits as well as challenges, none of which offer the level of revenue return to the community that a mixeduse village offers. Few of these alternatives are as likely to succeed as a mixed-use development. None of the alternatives will bring the variety of amenities coupled with a public gathering space that a mixed-use village offers. 801-745-4000 2555 WOLF CREEK DR. EDEN From the Service Deli www.valleymarketeden.com STORE HOURS: MON. - SAT. 7 AM - 10 PM SUNDAY 7 AM - 9 PM Any Dryers 56 oz. Ice Cream with coupon 50c OFF Expires 3/1/16 Any Shasta 12 pk 75c OFF with coupon Expires 3/1/16 Any Boars Head Made-to-Order Sandwich 50c OFF with coupon Expires 3/1/16 From the Deli Dept. Broccoli 79c per lb.with coupon Expires 3/1/16 French Bread 50c OFF with coupon Expires 3/1/16 From the Bakery gden ews Bella Vita Salon. A seasoned stylist, she states, “When my husband and I built our home in Liberty, we added a hair salon.” She explains, “I’ve been doing hair for over ten years and have owned a successful salon in Kaysville for over six. I’m excited to be living here in Ogden Valley and look forward to meeting new people and doing hair.” For a view of services available from La Bella Vita Salon, along with service pricing, visit Valdez’s website at www.mylabellavitasalon. com and click on the Liberty location tab at the top of the web page. To schedule an appointment, call or text Valdez at 801-499-1223. Valdez encourages customers, “Bring in VILLAGE PLANNED cont. from page 1 of land, to develop a sense of community, and to ensure compatibility with the surrounding neighborhoods and environment.” The Huntsville Town Counsel’s vote for a Specific Development Plan Overlay zone will affect only the one-acre property on which the village is placed. All other commercial and residential zoning in town will remain unchanged. The new mixed-use village will include space for up to nine small businesses and eight or less townhome residences above a portion of the businesses. The development plans are to build on 30% of the property and maintain 70% landscaped open space. This common area is designed as a public gathering place with grass, walkways, benches, trees and other features, including outdoor gas-fireplaces. “We want this new village to be a place the residents of Huntsville are proud to call part of their downtown,” said Dakota Hyde, Huntsville Square Partner. “Prior to the 2002 Olympics, it saddened us to see Huntsville’s business district abandoned and dilapidated. The Wood’s Market, Wood’s home, Post Office, and Heritage Inn were all abandoned—no lights, just darkness. Now, Huntsville Square is a charming and integral part of Huntsville’s downtown. We have worked hard for nearly two decades shaping our current grounds into a beautiful place that is embracing as you walk in. Our goal from the beginning has been to create a gathering place for people, which honored Huntsville’s heritage in architecture as well as atmosphere. We wish to continue to foster and preserve that small town charm.” Last year the Hyde Family purchased Ogden Valley’s original fire station. The structure was leaning to one side after weathering the elements for decades, including heavy winter snow loads. The Hydes spent their summer rebuilding the Old Fire Station with reclaimed materials from the original building and other sustainable materials. The building now serves as a venue for weddings and other celebrations to be enjoyed by many, while also honoring Huntsville’s early firefighters. “It is our family’s vision to create a village square that enhances community, promotes small business, creates jobs, and gives back to this special place; meanwhile, benefiting the town with a healthy tax base,” Jeff added. The new plan calls for small businesses such as restaurants, a bakery, coffee shop, small medical clinic, and gift shops. The Hyde family has also expressed interest in donating a space for a town history museum until a permanent location is established. For more information about Huntsville Square’s new mixed-use development or current services, please visit <huntsvillesquare. com/development> |