Show S S S i 1 t T J I S r J E T The Rug Ru Was Ws Jerked From Under Us' Us t f t N On Wednesday x evening March 7 the Bountiful city council on motion of Councilman Morris F. F seconded by Councilman Councilman Council Council- man Paul L L. Huber approved the Wallace McConaughy Corporation Corporation Corporation Cor Cor- application for rezoning of or the area west of the cit city hall haIl The vote was 3 to 2 This action culminated several months of hearings and discussions discus discus- I 1 signs by the various interests involved with the Planning Commission Commission Commission Com Com- mission and the City Council Because of these extended discussions discussions discussions dis dis- and the misinformation tion that has entered into the decision de deg of oC this important question ques ues tion lion a a. a state slate of the position of th those se favoring development of the existing downtown commercial commer cammer cial dial district Is in order The application to rezone this area irea was originally incorporated in the till proceedings s to adopt a new Zoning Ordinance for fOl tin the cit city A public hearing a was held on November ember 21 27 1961 A large majority of the overflow o crowd which attended opposed rezoning of oC the area west of oC the city hall pointing out the injustice to the residents of the Parkie Parkview Park Park- view ie Subdivision adjoining at atthe atthe atthe the south the adverse effect it would have on their resident property and the traffic hazards it would present as IS well weIl as th th- serious effect it would have on continued development and irn im provement in the downtown business section Following this hearing henring the cit city council eliminated the area are west of oC the city hall from the proposed commercial zone and approved the zoning ordinance continuing this area uel in the r resi residential residential si classification Despite this determination and md the n numerous protests made at atthe atthe I the November public hearing halin I another such public hearing W uan Wt as t j j held on January 2 1962 1062 sex seven Sl en j weeks later at which a large group roup again objected to the proposed pro posed rezoning of this area and andon andon andon on January 16 a motion was adopted by the Bountiful Planning Plan Plan- Planning ning commission with only two members dissenting denying the petition to rezone At the same meeting the planning commissIon commission commission com com- mission also adopted a motion that the downtown merchants be given until March 6 1962 1952 to present to the planning commission commission commission com com- mission definite plans land options and commitments tenants tenants tenants ten ten- ants investors or lessees and andon andon on that date if the planning commission is not satisfied with the progress of or the downtown merchants then they the planning planning plan plan- ning commission would Initiate proceedings to rezone nc the area between Main and West and from Park View Vic Subdivision north to tn the present commercial zone zon Jn Follo this Im and ana n despite pite the fact that this motion required required re re- re action that others including including in in- the promoters of the proposed development and of the already approved development development develop develop- ment at South have not been able to assemble in one or two and one half years the theroun group roun representing the down down- own own business area area again went to work contacting property owners and prospective e tenants In the short space of seven weeks and through the sev severest rest restart part art of oC the it secured commitments from enough properly property prop prop- erty erly owners to guarantee the success of the desired development development develop develop- ment in the heart of or the downtown downtown down down- own town district and definite e ex expressions expressions ex- ex of interest were ob ob- obtained from large laige business conj con can t j terns cenis indicating a real interest I in n becoming ng a 3 part nf or this t lis downtown down town expansion j Individual Indi l blocks bolk tit were ere an j i by the arch architect and plans were formulated for their integration into the business community Despite this showing of oC definite definite def deC progress however the planning commission on March 6 G and with two members absent absent absent ab ab- ab- ab sent voted to recommend to the city council that the requested requested re re- quested rezoning of the area west of the city hall haIl be ap ape ap- ap proved It Il is the feeling of the the Down Downtown Down Down- town lown Merchants' Merchants Association the architect and planning consultant con con consultant engaged by It who are two of ot the foremost authorities in the state in this field and other experts who have been consulted regarding this matter that the downtown area should be given cn some encouragement rage nt lo to realize ze JI its full potential The a architect ct and planning consultant have outlined a program program pro pro- gram and designed plans for maximum development de downtown downtown down down- town and both of or these experts in the planning field have ha indicated indi dated that such a development was both practical and could be accomplished in a manner which would give the residents of Bountiful and the surrounding surround surround- ing area all nil that would bo be desired desir desired de de- sir sired d In a unified central sh shop shopping shopping p ping district Some of the reasons why this should be done are as follows The Bountiful Main Street business district now contains over square fe feet t of area devoted de to comm commercial use over feet feel et being within a three three- block area In the central sec tion ion The lx existing sti g commercially zoned area Hlen will serve e a lion don of r at ill least people prop It snore moie than th the full rs r's residential development r of the city it and ad joining sections will require Over O acres are already zoned commercial acres being in the downtown district Ample space is assured for extensive extensive extensive ex ex- commer commercial ial and shopping shop ping development including increased increased in in- creased parking facilities for over 60 GO cars in the heart of the downtown district Over 40 new businesses have been established in the Main Street area within the last 10 years involving the construction construction tion of approximately 20 new b buildings There are now note three sites available a for a large department department depart depart- ment store stor within one me block of Center Street ct and Main and room for a large number of smaller stores This Thi shows definite def progress and with the addition id- id of nf a lard t store scour and nd some other shopping i i facilities facilities- as w well II as the con continued tinned improvements of f those alread already in existence adequate Id convenient and desirable shopping shopping shop shop- ping facilities can be provided pro downtown J If It we further develop the ex cx sting downtown business section sec tion lion the people will be provid provided ed with a large unified and central cen cen- central ceri shopping district offering wide selections and comparative comparative tive buying within a compact easily accessible area rather than being required to do o their th ir shopping in several small scattered scattered scattered scat scat- centers It is th the e earnest hope of the Bountiful Merchants t that the city will twill reconsider its ita U and make ri it pO possible ible for th the plan nun lIft underway va VilY leJ to lo ch develop full fully Tt is Ml fen 11 that 1 h ji hii hh lOUriC e ei I would hr hr- a adlo ad aI I P PI I lo to II the entire ty |