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Show Page 10 Volume I, Issue VII The Ogden Valley News April 1999 Letters to the Editor News from the LibertyNordic Planning Committe A public hearing was held in the Weber County Commission chambers on March 11th regarding the re-zoning of 5.7 acres located at the northwest end of the Nordic Valley Golf Course. It was denied by the commissioners and recommended that the developer better address the concerns of water and sewer before returning to the Weber County Township planning district for further action. This meeting will be held in the Weber County Commission Chambers on April 20th at 5:00 p.m. To find out the placement of this or any other item on the agenda, contact the engineering department of Weber County at 399-8371. The sign ordinance is also scheduled to be on the agenda at this same meeting for final review. If you happened to have read the Standard Examiner news paper on Wednesday, March 24 th I was incorrectly quoted by Charles Trentelman in regard to the sign ordinance and the D-MAC (Disaster Medical Assistance Center) unit. Mr. Trentelman incorrectly quoted me by saying the signage on this vehicle would violate a proposed sign ordinance governing Ogden Valley. This is totally incorrect and was not even discussed. I did state that, “A provision has been added to the sign ordinance, that would make this type of signage possible upon receipt of a conditional use permit, to be reviewed on a case by case basis.” This is an important issue in the Valley at the present time and therefore the residents need correct information. Any questions or concerns you have regarding development, signage or code enforcement information, please contact Craig Barker at Weber County, 399-8371. LIBERTY PLANNING COMMITTEE Desiree’ Stokes - Chairperson Jim Banks - Vice Chairperson Karen Smith Ronnie Chambers Blaine Shaw Dave Tanner Dave Morby NORDIC PLANNING COMMITTEE Bill Green Brent Seppich Bob Heffernan Kenny Wright Bruce McWhorter Any questions you have concerning the Liberty/Nordic planning committee can be addressed by contacting Desiree’ Stokes (Chairperson) at 745-6228. Once again, as always, I would like to thank the staff of the Ogden Valley News for giving the planning committees and residents of the Valley a place to inform people of current events that affect the landowners and residents of Ogden Valley. Desiree’ Stokes Liberty/Nordic Chairperson Restore Woods Market I am a resident of Huntsville and liked visiting Wood’s market. However, that “old America” that it represented is so quickly vanishing into Malls and big chain stores. Sad, that it can’t be supported . . . I would like to see the building sandblasted and restored to its turn of the century charm like in the picture you published. Then, perhaps, an art gallery or art cooperative with a front area selling snacks and drinks. If there were an upstairs, there could be art classes held. I’ve seen other old buildings like this in Washington and Oregon doing the same thing, and they are successful. I would also have an area with lots of old pictures of Huntsville on display inside. With the Snowbasin development looming in the future, perhaps a business like this, which appeals to visitors and supports locals, could work out. Dianne Sanders Huntsville CONSERVATION EASEMENTS by Jim Hasenyager, Chairman of the Ogden Valley Land Trust As land values in Ogden Valley steadily increase, along with the ages of the landowners now holding title to some of the larger remaining parcels of land in the Valley, more than a few families are soon going to be facing the prospect of huge estate tax liabilities, and the forced sale of family lands just to pay those taxes. One of the specific goals of the Ogden Valley Land Trust is to provide the legal tool by which these coming estate tax problems can be significantly reduced or, in some cases, eliminated through the use of conservation easements, thus allowing a family to maintain ownership of its property and the ability to transfer the land, intact, to following generations. For example, suppose a husband and wife, now in their late 70’s, own a home valued at $150,000 and 200 acres of land capable of being developed into homesites. Suppose further that the value of the property, if sold for development, is $15,000 per acre. The couple then has a total joint estate worth $3,150,000. With proper estate planning that couple could shelter $1.3 million of the value of their estate from estate taxes. That would leave $1,850,000 subject to federal estate taxes, which will be taxed at approximately 38.55% This comes to $713,300. This means to keep the property intact and within the family, the family must, within nine months of the death of the last parent, come up with $713,300 to pay the federal estate tax if they want to keep the family property intact. Most families will be unable to raise that amount of money, so, as a practical matter, they will be forced to sell a substantial share of the family property and it will then pass out of the family regardless of any desire to preserve the land. The big winner is the federal government; the bigger loser is the family forced to sell its property. Now, consider this same scenario, except that instead of only sheltering 1.3 million, the family utilizes, in addition, a conservation easement as an estate planning tool. There are three children of the couple, each of whom want to build permanent or second homes on the remaining 200 acres. So, three homesites of five acres each are reserved for building purposes and a conservation easement is placed on the remaining 185 acres which family members continue to own and use in traditional ways. The appraised value of the property if sold for development purposes was $15,000 per acre, but if left open, the value of the property is now reduced to $5,000 per acre. The value of the parents’ estate for tax purposes is now as follows: Parent’s home $150,000 Three 5-acre building sites @ $15,000 per acre $225,000 185 acres @ $5,000 per acre $825,000 Total estate value for tax purposes $1.2 million In this scenario, with up to $1.3 million sheltered, the estate tax owed would be zero. Using a conservation easement as an estate planning tool, results achieved are as follows: Federal estate tax payments saved $713,300 Each child has a five (5) acre building site on the family property. The family property remains intact and remains in the family for farming, wildlife or other family purposes. If a conservation easement may assist your family, or if you would like to learn more about this alternative, feel free to contact any board member of the Ogden Valley Land Trust or your personal attorney, who can contact the Land Trust. Herman Blumel Martha Crocker Joe Draper Harold Edwards Shanna Francis Jim Hasenyager David Holmstrom Matt Jensen Jim/Kristen Yeager 745-3811 745-2888 745-0521 745-0227 745-2688 745-2048 745-6638 726-4545 745-3757 Lastly, any cash donation to the Ogden Valley Land Trust to help in its work would be greatly appreciated and is tax deductible, so if you need or could use a tax deduction before April 15, 1999, please consider the Land Trust. Valley Vet Etta Baker - Veterinarian 10010 E. 200 S. Huntsville by appointment 745-2697 |
