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Show Guardian of Your Community News Zoning issues in SF council Namon Bills EDITOR Most of Spanish Fork City Council meeting Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009 was devoted to planning and zoning issues. Community Development Director Dave Anderson presented the various items to the council, which were all approved, with the exception of one decision which was postponed until the next council meeting because the interested parties were absent. The first two items in consideration were amendments to the Maple Mountain preliminary plat and approval of the Pine View preliminary plat in order to provide room for elementary schools within these subdivisions. The Maple Mountain school is the'most pressing, said Anderson, whereas the Pine View school would probably not be built for a number of years. Anderson explained that the amendments to the Maple Mountain plat would change a 5-acre park adjacent to the school property to a 4.5-acre park, but that the school grounds would also be available for public use much of the time. The council approved both measures. The council also passed a motion to consider an annexation petition of the Swenson Addition, north of the airport. Coucilman Wayne Andersen said the area would need to be removed from any agricultural protection area before it is annexed. During the public hearing portion of the meeting, the zoning discussions continued. Anderson presented a possible solution to the ongoing issue of an ALA building which did not meet setback requirements for its zoning. The proposal included a rezoning of the area from R-l30 to R-1 -15 and an adjustment to the R-l-15 zone requirements to match R-l-12 so that the building would meet setback requirements. The council approved the changes, with an additional change to the R-l-15 zone so that height restrictions would be 30' instead of 25' feet to conform with the city's other zone guidelines. Grant Jensen applied for a zone change so that some of his property at 55 East 700 North could be made into a parking lot behind a commercial building he owns in the area. Anderson explained that the situation was unique because, although the area in question is in the middle of a block, it abuts commercial property and therefore the zone change would not create a commercial island within a residential area. City regulations require Jensen to construct a sixfoot masonry wall around the parking lot and add landscaping to the area. The council approved the change. The council also approved an in-fill overlay zone change and preliminary plat approval of the Peterson Spanish Cove development, which would create two twin homes at 245 North 300 East, Spanish Fork. The original plan had been adjusted to put a driveway on the north instead of the south side of the property, in accordance with a neighbor's wishes. The only measure the council decided to wait on was a zone change requested by the Isaacson family for a property on the corner of 900 North and 200 East, from which they are currently running a home business. In order to expand their business, the area would need to be rezoned either Residential Office (RO) or Commercial Office (CO). Anderson explained that the council could do one of two things. Since half of the block is currently zoned commercial, they could rezone the rest of the block to match. Or they could wait until 2010 and address the issue during the regular General Plan review, because the 900 North corridor would be up for rezoning consideration anyway. Since the Isaacsons were not present, the council decided to table the decision until the following meeting. In other business, the council passed a resolution presented by Kent Clark to refinance a city bond from the original five percent interest rate to 2.75 percent. Clark said the move should save the city $161,000. During the public comment portion of the meeting, Leland Birch raised concerns about snow removal on 1000 North. With the additional lane of traffic, there isn't a buffer zone for the snow and it gets piled up on the sidewalks, he said. Thad Jensen of the Veterans Council spoke about the expansion of the Veterans Memorial in the cemetery and the need for donations. Glen Bradford of the American Legion presented the possibility of establishing a veterans assisted living center in Spanish Fork. He said it could bring 100 jobs to the area, but it would require a donation of 10-12 acres of land. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2009 • A7 Mapleton City Council adjusts cross sections Jessika Hilton STAFF WRITER The Mapleton City Council convened on Dec. 16 to come to some final decisions regarding aspects of the Gibby property, as well as recognize police and ambulance personnel, and present nominations for the 2010-2012 Fire Chief and Planning Commission Members. It was Mayor Laurel Brady's last presiding council meeting; Councilman Brian Wall will preside over the next meeting in January as Mayor. Ambulance and police personnel were recognized for their efforts of delivering a baby in the back of a minivan that had gotten stuck in a snowdrift. EMTs Wiscom, Wilkey and Higgins as well as Officer Christensen were awarded Over the weekend construction crews installed a shut-off valve at a critical point on Spanish Fork City's water system. City crews took measures to ensure that water remained in all lines. The addition of this valve is to give extra security and flexibility to the water system. It will allow the city to isolate broken water mains if the city's water lines were damaged again like they were this fall in a construction incident. Chris Thompson, Assistant Public Works Director, said, "Because of the events of this fall, we have identified a way that we can make our water-delivery system more reliable and secure. ... it will provide a lasting solution that will eliminate many future outages." dinances regarding the code for utility building. In addition, a public hearing was helfl to amend city crosssection drawings in order to add a new standard for hillside areas. After a heated public hearing, the council came to some decisions about standards for hillside cross sections as well asfinalplat approval for Dr. Gibby's property and proposed Freedom Vista Subdivision. Mayor Laurel Brady expressed her concerns about the safety of the road in question. Citizen Diana Aldana also brought up the fact that the planning commission committee had voted to deny the standard, and Mike Tippets questioned if other options had been explored. The final decision regarding the addition of a standard for hillside cross sections to the cross section standard drawings was approved three to one, with Councilman Brian Wall against. This decision now adds the standard that hillside cross sections are required to have a 29-foot right of way. How this requirement will be carried out is still under consideration, because the amendment requires that the road extend into private property. Randy Graham expressed his concern about the outstanding conditions, and implored the council to "make him [Dr. Gibby] abide by the same rules as r everyone else." In addition, the final plat for the subdivision was approved across the board. The plat was approved in conjunction with the 21 outstanding conditions. WH meetings on, then off that Mayor Harding denied seeing the notice, and he takes responsibility for calling the meetings and for cancelling them. The outgoing mayor of Elk Ridge, Dennis Dunn, discussed the proposed new boundary between his city and Woodland Hills recently. Most issues were resolved at a working meeting during the summer, but some lines near the former Mecham Ranch remain in flux. Elk' Ridge currently supplies water to that property, but the working agreement puts it in Woodland Hills. Dunn would like to have Loafer Canyon Road included in his city. Based on small map with faint lines, he thought that Woodland Hills had reneged on earlier discussions, but on Dec. 14 Harding presented a detailed map that represented the working agreement. That satisfied Dunn, although details near the ranch still need to be worked out. The map clears an obstacle to holding a public hearing in Elk Ridge; Dunn had not schedule one because he could not present a map to the city council. Some five proper- ties near the boundaryare county property, and that greatly complicates annexations. Dunn said that the county assessor estimates that if the properties became part of Elk Ridge, the owners would see a slight drop in their taxes. These "islands" were part of the motivation for changing the boundary between the two cities. we would talk to him, and his dauntless pioneer spirour friendship grew from it was sold through silent auction at the Festival of there," Evans said. were asked to show in the When Seely was killed Trees. parade, and they were next on Aug. 12, 2008, Evans "One hundred percent of to the Seelys in the lineup. said they were devastated. the money goes to the PriThey got to know each "He was such a wonder- mary Children's Hospital," other while they waited ful person," she said. Evans said. for the parade to start, and He was doing what he The trees had to be set every year since, the Ev- loved best, taking a group up on Nov. 30, 2009, the ans have gone to the Castle on a handcart trek, when he Monday after ThanksgivDale Pageant, which Seely was hit by a pick-up truck, ing at the Sandy Expo Censpear-headed, wrote and and killed. He completed ter. The bidding opened on produced. The pageant has around 35 handcart treks in Dec. 1, and the festival been running since 1978. his life. was open to the public "Every time we went The tree dedicated to Dec. 2-5,2009. Evans found joy and healing in this gift of love. "It's always a neat experience to be able to participate in a function like that. They treat you so wonderful while you're there, and you' know where all the money is going," she said. Evans said this is probably the last tree she' 11 decorate and donate to the festival. "It's such a labor of love," she said, "just a neat experience." Hilarie Orman STAFF WRITER Mayor Toby Harding kept the Woodland Hills city council on edge during his last weeks in office. Three weeks ago he had the city recorder post notices about filling a city council vacancy and announced a special city council meeting for Dec. 17. Although the notices said that the city council had requested the actions, no one on the council could recall having been consulted. By Wednesday of last week, at least four people had filed as applicants for the city council seat made vacant by Tom O'Grady's resignation: Byron Adams, Wendy Pray, Lyn Bennett and David Stones. However, on that morning, email from the city recorder to the applicants announced cancellation of all meetings. That move means that remaining work items for the year, particularly the preliminary approval of the modified subdivision plan for Woodland Heights, will not be addressed. Nonetheless, the new council can consider the plan in the new year, because the two year time limit will not be invoked. This surprise move comes from an interpretation of the subdivision ordinance that suspends the expiration if the city council delays a vote. The odd wording on the meeting announcements resulted from a misunderstanding by the city recorder, sources tell us. They say Tree: From EVANS • A l Warmth: From FOOTHILLS • A l Construction on water line blue stork pins, as the successfully delivered baby was a boy. Mayor Laurel Brady, Ann Holly and Chief Roger Michelson were also recognized for their efforts and service. After two years of service as Mayor, Brady will be succeeded by Brian Wall this coming year. Chief Roger Michaels spoke approvingly of Ron Whiting, the nominee for the 20102012 Fire Chief and the current head 6f the association. Planning Commission officers were also nominated for the upcoming term, and included Mike Tippets and Jeff Hawkins with Richard Lewis as an alternate. Public hearings were held for the final plat approval for the Freedom Vista Subdivision, common boundary adjustments with Spanish Fork City, and or- by Richard Paul Evans, founder of the Christmas Box House, with locations in Salt Lake and Ogden. While there is no Utah Valley Christmas Box House, the club does have a room, donated by Child Protective Services, where they distribute needed items to abused children and foster parents. They serve children from newborns to 18 years old. The Utah Valley Christmas Box Club also works with other charitable organizations which help children, like the House of Hope and the Boys and Girls Clubs. This year the school's goal was to donate 100 items to the Christmas Box Club. They more than tri- Httiiii^a pled their goal, with over 350 items donated. Club President Betty Quinn was impressed by the generosity shown by Foothills and other organizations around the area. "The community has been so generous — I don't know how we can thank them. They have helped these little at-risk children beyond belief with their generosity," she said. Quinn and club VP Lois Knuteson were on hand to accept the donation from Principal Ed Schollenberger and the students at Foothills. The Utah Valley Christmas Box Club is an allvolunteer organization. Those interested in volunteering can contact Quinn at bettyquinnl5@yahoo. com or Knuteson at knutmom3705@q.com. |