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Show The Ogden Valley News Your Community Newspaper April 1, 2023 USPS MARKETING MAIL POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 11 EDEN UT POSTAL PATRON EDEN-LIBERTY-84310 HUNTSVILLE-84317 OGDEN CANYON- 84401 HCR 843AO County Responds to Flooding Concerns in Ogden Valley Lisa Swartz Gosline, Weber County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program Director with the Weber County Sheriff’s Office, provided the following information regarding possible flooding in the county, including Ogden Valley. Based on the current forecast, and rain rate predictions from the National Weather Service, we can anticipate a heightened risk of moderate nuisance flooding in the upper valley on Wednesday. This risk has a primary impact to residents in downslope drainages with daylight basements, or downhill driveways which lead to the home (northeast facing areas of Nordic Valley, and South facing drainages below North Fork Park). Currently, the storm forecast in total shows less total rainfall for the 24- to 48-hour period; however, the hourly rate of rainfall predicted exceeds that we’ve thus far experienced. As such a sandbag filling area has been opened at the Eden Shops for Ogden Valley residents only who feel the need to prepare for this storm. We do not anticipate a need for a large volunteer effort or filling large quantities of bags, thanks to the Roads Department’s efforts in clearing drainages and providing areas for water to move. As the forecast becomes more defined—as far as timing, temperatures, and hourly rates—the county says they will adjust their planning efforts accordingly. Valley residents are willing to visit the county shed area located behind Snowcrest Jr. High and fill and take sandbags as needed. Please, only take what you anticipate you will absolutely need so there will be enough to go around. This historic Eden barn was torn down February 13. Bruce Grandin of Eden, who snapped these photos, wrote, “I pulled over in my truck and cried Managing flooding requires everyone’s as I saw the monster machine ripping apart our historical red barn. Excavator operator Curt Smith (Smitty), who said he loves old barns, told me engagement. As residents, we need to start that owner Roger Terry wanted it torn down to make way for the New Valley Market grocery store…. I’ve been photographing this barn for over 20 FLOODING CONCERNS cont. on page 10 years, and she’s gone. So sad [that] it didn’t get saved.” See more photos on The Ogden Valley News Facebook page. Update on Short Term Rentals (STRs) for Ogden Valley There are two significant events regarding Short Term Rentals (STRs) that are of likely interest to the Ogden Valley community. First, Utah House Bill HB 0291 regarding STRs was not passed during the recent Utah legislative session. If the bill had passed the Utah State Legislature, a STR pilot program would have been created to expand STRs to 80% of residential dwelling units and also grant amnesty to those who illegally provided STRs—in essence, rewarding those who violated existing ordinances. Second, a GRAMA request (#23-190/192) was submitted to Weber County Planning to obtain information on progress made to date on the control and enforcement of STRs in the unincorporated areas of Weber County. In January, Weber County contracted with a 3rd party, Granicus, to scrape web sites that adver- Ogden Valley Incorporation Feasibility Study Update tise STRs and report this information to Weber County. To date, Weber County has received a tremendous amount of data from Granicus, and at least 550 illegal STRs (most in zones/ land use code areas that do not allow STRs) have been found in the unincorporated areas of Weber County. A high-level map is attached that indicates where noncompliant (illegal) STRs have been reported to date. Note that, by far, the majority of these are in Ogden Valley. There is still much more data that has to be sorted and analyzed, and Weber County Planning is considering a meeting in Ogden Valley in early to mid-May to inform valley residents on the STR control and enforcement they have been able to accomplish. Weber County Planning has also posted UPDATE STR By Shanna Francis Community members working toward qualifying for a state-funded feasibility study on the incorporation of Ogden Valley are continuing their efforts, despite a recent miscalculation setback on the part of Weber County who was directed by the state to qualify and quantify and gathered submitted incorporation feasibility petition signatures. The gathering of enough signatures—representing 10% of the proposed boundary’s private land and 7% of the marketable value therein—is the first step in moving forward with an incorpocont. on page 8 ration feasibility study. The signatures submitted more than adequately met these goals. However, the county misinterpreted the law, expecting petitioners to meet a much higher threshold than required. In addition, the county requested additional supporting documentation that has not been required previously from other cities who have gone through this process. Weber County’s miscalculation of the number of submitted petition signatures and associated real property valuation and acreage, and the insistence on more documentation than traditionally required, led to an initial denial that petitioners had successfully met the state’s legal threshold. Petition sponsors met with representatives from the state’s Lt. Governor’s office March 10 to reach a resolution. In consequence, the Lt. Governor’s office reviewed the county’s mis- FEASIBILTY STUDY cont. on page 13 Beach Cleanup Event Planned Snowbasin Rethinks Contract with Club Med Pineview Mark your calendars and join us for some spring cleaning on Earth Day, Following several years of significant growth in Utah and Ogden Valley, Snowbasin is reviewing its comprehensive development program. “In recent years, we have seen strong demand at Snowbasin, fueled by the growing Utah tourism market, and continued investment into the resort,” said Bruce Fery, Chairman and CEO of Grand America Hotels and Resorts, Inc., the parent of Snowbasin Resort Company. “As we navigate this period of growth, we felt it right to reassess the path ahead, enabling us to focus on our central goal of providing a world-class ski experience to our resort guests.” In the fall of 2021, Snowbasin and Club Med announced plans for the construction of an allinclusive Club Med property to be located at the resort. After extensive discussions, the two companies have decided not to pursue this project. “We have enjoyed working with Club Med and its leadership,” said Davy Ratchford, Snowbasin’s general manager. “Club Med is a great organization that offers a wonderful experience for its guests. We wish them the best with their future plans.” “We are in the final stretch of another memorable winter season at Snowbasin, one of our best yet,” Ratchford added. “Earlier this season, we announced the addition of a new six-person high-speed lift, set to open later this year, that will enhance the skier experience and provide additional lift capacity in the Strawberry area of the mountain. An unyielding emphasis on guest service and satisfaction has led to Snowbasin being recognized as one of the top ski resorts in the United States. That will continue, and we are thrilled for what the future holds for the resort.” Club Med is a global company specializing in premium all-inclusive vacation packages tied to 65 award-winning resorts worldwide. There website says they offer everything from tropical island oases and cruises to ski retreats. View of Ogden Valley from Snowbasin Resort. Photo courtesy of Snowbasin. Saturday, April 22, to help keep our beaches waste free! The Ogden Pineview Yacht Club (OPYC) is organizing this communitywide beach cleanup at Pineview Reservoir, and all are welcome to participate! The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. Meet at the Yacht Club, 990 N. Highway 158 in Eden, to break into groups for a targeted cleanup. Bring a pair of gloves. OPYC will provide free pizza and drinks for all who participate. Coffee will be provided by Eden’s The Drip coffee shop. Hope to see you there! UDOT Says No Plans in the Works to Address Traffic Woesing on Trapper’s Loop pass holder options for skiers from Utah and By Shanna Francis Has anyone experienced this year’s winter traffic delays on your way to Snowbasin or Ogden Valley while crossing Trapper’s Loop from Mountain Green? Weekend traffic or snow-closure school days have been especially problematic for drivers trying to make their way over the mountain pass from Weber Canyon. This year’s traffic woes were heightened by Snowbasin and Sun Valley’s partnership with the Ikon Pass and The Mountain Collective, which began with the 2022-2023 ski season, expand- beyond! Members of the Ikon Pass gain access to fifty global destinations, opening up Ogden Valley’s Snowbasin Resort to thousands of other Ikon Pass holders from across five continents, ten countries, fifteen U.S. states, and four Canadian provinces. Mountain Collective pass holders from the 2022-2023 ski season had access to two days of skiing at each of the 22 Mountain Collective partner sites from around the world, many located in the Western U.S. The popular pass had no blackout TRAFFIC WOES cont. on page 12 Large Boulders Fall to Road on North Ogden Divide On the evening of March 13, at about 9:00 p.m. deputies responded to a rockslide on the North Ogden Divide, which closed the road for several hours after several large rocks slid off the mountain, blocking the road. Weber County Roads Department were called out and they were able to clear the road using heavy equipment to push the large boulders over the edge of the road. Photo of rock slide on North Ogden Divide March 13. Photo courtesy of Weber County Sheriff’s. Lt. Ryan with the Weber County Sheriff’s Office reported that while smaller rock falls onto the roadway are not uncommon, boulders of the size that came down blocking the road are more rarely seen. A request from the Weber County Sheriff’s Office states, “We are asking travelers who use the North Ogden Divide and Ogden Canyon to slow down and pay attention. With the warmer weather and wet conditions, we are getting several reports of rocks in the roadway. No injuries or damages to property were reported with the recent large rockfall. On March 15, a rock also fell on a vehicle in Ogden Canyon, causing the canyon to close for several hours. It is not unheard of for falling rocks to cause severe injury or death as they tumble from hillsides abutting roadways. In 2018, a Layton man was critically injured, and a woman passenger suffered serious injuries when a large rock BOULDERS cont. on page 6 Table for twelve. Photo taken by Tracy Woodworth of Eden. |