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Show The OGDEN May 1, 2000 VALLEY NEWS BULK RATE POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 11 POSTAL PATRON EDEN-LIBERTY-84310 HUNTSVILLE-84317 OGDEN CANYON- 84401 HCR 843AO Your Community Newspaper Inside This Issue: Easter Bunny Visits Eden Time for Decisions in the Ogden Valley Page 3 Aid for Suppression of Grasshoppers Page 4 By Shanna Francis Ogden Valley News Staff Ways to Diversify your Portfolio Page 5 Counselors Spot Warning Signs Page 6 Vanishing Breed? Page 7 Laughing for the Fun of It? Page 8 Learning Language Page 8 Carol Guthrie, Ruth Monahan, and Jeff Guthrie and children enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt and Bunny Hop in the Eden Park Bowery. Weber County Township Planning Commission Denies Approval of Six Story Office Building By Shanna Francis Calendar of Events Page 9 Announcements Page 10 Student News Pages 11 - 12 Sports News Pages 12 - 13 Bureau Concludes Finding of No Significant Impact Page 14 Local Merchants Celebrate Open House Page 15 Best of Bridal Showcased Page 15 Armchair Armor Page 16 Government / Planning News Page 17 Indian Battle in Ogden Valley Page 18 Classifieds Page 19 Liberty Residents Donate Conservation Easement to Ogden Valley Land Trust Ogden Valley News Staff On April 18, the Weber County Township Planning Commission listened to arguments for and against a petition for construction of a five- to six-story highrise office building in the Valley Junction commercial center in Eden. Petitioner Edward Patterson of Nebraska argues that the Valley needs a balance of commercial, residential and service oriented businesses for it to be a successful community. Patterson states that his building will bring this needed balance to the Valley. He also states that he plans to develop a powerful electrical substation in the basement of the building, and telephone switching offices and a broadband communication system. Eventually he would like to provide Ogden Valley with its source of electrical power and communication services. In the planning meeting, Patterson argued that his building will actually decrease traffic in the Valley because employees won’t have to commute to work because of the jobs that will be generated from new businesses locating in the building. Mr. Patterson did concede that high-income renters would need to be solicited to pay the pricey rent for the proposed building—barring employment of the current work force found in the Valley. Patterson expects to market the building to sophisticated computer companies. When asked, “Why Ogden Valley?” he noted that he needed to pursue an attractive environment for his business that will provide a draw for the high-ended renters. For renters, he was looking for, “A nice place where people, who have the money to make choices in life, will choose to work—a place where in the evening they [employees and employers] can go up and ski and enjoy themselves.” The Weber County Planning staff recommended denial of the proposed building, citing four main issues: The current proposed height of the building which exceeds the original height proposed dur- ing hearings for the rezoning of the property to an M-1 zone; the proposed building exceeds the height and scale of surrounding commercial development; the proposed building is not compatible with Ogden Valley’s Rural Character and natural setting; and approval of the building will impair the communities’ ability to provide locations for contractors’ equipment storage. A Bear West report, adopted as part of the Ogden Valley General Plan, states that, “some residents voiced an interest in providing areas [in the community] for construction equipment and snowplows.” In response to this public input, the Weber County Commission adopted on October 23, 1996, resolution 46A-96 of the General Plan. It states, “Heavy industrial uses are not compatible with the Valley’s character. There is, however, a need to accommodate light industrial uses, such as construction equipment storage. It is recommended that the County identify and designate areas in the County for ‘equipment storage.’ Two such zones have been identified: behind the commercial strip along the American Legion corridor and the County road shed in Eden.” To emphasize the need for storage areas, the planning staff related that the County is currently pursuing five complaints against illegal storage of contractor’s equipment in residential zones in Ogden Valley. Eden residents opposing the development reiterated similar concerns about the structure not fitting in with the community, and the concern that the development would generate additional traffic stresses on current infrastructure. Section four of Resolution number 4696 of the Ogden Valley General Plan also states that riparian areas, watersheds, flood plains, wetlands, wildlife habitat, groundwater recharge areas and Pineview Reservoir are all resources deemed important by Valley residents, and that to accomplish protection of these resources and values, several policies and programs HIGHRISE cont. on Page 3 Brian Smith and Karen Bossler of Spring Mountain in Liberty moved to Ogden Valley in 1990, attracted by the Valley’s beauty and solitude and the amenities of skiing and hiking—literally in their backyard. Brian and Karen were interested in doing their part to ensure that the beauty and the outdoor amenities of the Valley would be around, long after they weren’t. Recently the Liberty residents placed a conservation easement on a sixteen-acre parcel of land they own above Spring Mountain. The wooded property is nestled on the mountainside providing habitat for moose, red fox, deer, bobcat, mountain lion and the threatened Goshawk and Flammulated owl. The property also parallels the historic Pioneer Trail for about 1/3 of a mile as it winds down the side of the mountain as it has for decades. Formerly of Montana, Karen was well acquainted with conservation easements where, in that state, they are commonly implemented. After learning that Ogden Valley had a land trust, Brian and Karen worked with the Ogden Valley Land Trust to legally place the easement over the Valley property. The land trust permanently limits a property’s uses in order to protect is conservation value A conservation easement runs with the property as indicated on the deed that is recorded with the County. In this case, Brian and Karen still own the property and can legally sell, lease and will the land, as with any other piece of private property. The conservation easement only places restrictions on development of the property, guaranteeing that the property will remain in perpetuity, unencumbered by commercial or residential development. Brian Smith and Karen Bossler Brian and Karen have the satisfaction of, not only knowing that the property will remain in its current natural condition, they also receive the income tax benefits that accompany the charitable gift, calcuLAND TRUST cont. on Page 2 |
