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Show Flood fears prompts halt Wednesday evening the Iron County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the county commission declare a six month moratorium on subdivision development, due, according ac-cording to Commissioner Jim Clark, to the high risk of flood damage. "We are trying to protect the public in the future," Clark said. "It is not a healthy thing to have people building right in the middle of a flood channel. If the winter snow runoff comes down in a hurry, we could have troubles." Such suspect flood channels exists in Cedar Valley, Parowan and Beryl, Clark said. Other factors which prompted the Planning and Zoning action included the subsidence question that has also plagued Cedar City. Clark said there is no hard and fast data which shows the hydrocompaction does not extend into the valley area. "We want to have the SCS (Soil Conservation Service) map the county areas as to soil conditions," Clark explained. "I doubt we have the same major subsidence problems but we want to be on the safe side. With this action (moratorium) we have just said 'Let's take a look in the future and eliminate some grief for some people down the road.' " The decision, which was not unanimous due to board member Ivan Robb's abstention, will be further fur-ther moved upon by the commission at the county commission meeting Wednesday (the 12th). Clark said he has been approached by local developers who have stated "this is a bad way to approach" the problem. "I can understand that they want to develop their land, but we are trying to protect the public." Clark also said the commission is concerned about the possible contamination con-tamination of underground water supplies in Cedar Valley. But the flooding problem is of chief concern right now, Clark said. "We should look at the whole county. We need to identify the areas that shouldn't be built on," Clark said. The county could, he added, be held liable for damage done due to flooding and other unsafe conditions. |