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Show Questions for Improvement District Told by Marcella Walker Several questions relating to a recently approved special improvement district along 500 North in Pleasant Grove, also known as Grovecreek Drive, apparently were resolved during a meeting hosted by a citizens committee this past week. The citizens group, informally infor-mally organized as the Grovecreek Drive Citizens Committee for Good Government Govern-ment had invited city Councilman Coun-cilman Frank Mills and engineer Lee Wimmer to explain ex-plain the improvement project. Although it was noted that a majority of citizens owning property along 500 North, between 100 E. and 1100 East, had voted in favor of the project, it was pointed out that a number of questions had arisen and need to be answered. an-swered. The project, which involves widening and improving the present road is expected to cost $458,336, with the estimated expenditures by property owners own-ers set at $4.35 per front foot. Financing Explained It was noted a federal grant will pay $394,052 or 85 percent of the total while Pleasant Grove will pay $12,500 with approximately $51,784 coming from the property owners. It was explained the road, as proposed, will be 46 feet wide, plus curb and gutter. Property owner Paul Richards Rich-ards quoted a current state traffic survey which indicated the road now averages about 1700 cars per day and that about 3,200 per day are projected for 1995. He added that state officials said a two-lane two-lane road will accomodate that many vehicles per day. Mr. Mills reported he was advised by the State Transportation Tran-sportation Department that 46 feet of blacktop would be required before the grant could be approved. He added that transportation officials advised they will insist on curb and gutter or an allowance for an approved method of handling water runoff. The 500 North residents group, headed by acting chairman Cloyd Christiansen, added that the citizens would like sidewalks installed if possible. Councilman Mills reported however, that the sidewalks could not be funded by the grant. He said residents could put in their own sidewalks at (Continued on page 3) Improvement (Continued from page 1) construction if they wish. The citizens also told the councilman that they felt there was a need for better traffic enforcement along the street. Most of the residents indicated in-dicated they were not in favor of a four-foot planter strip between the curb and sidewalk side-walk as required by city ordinance, and a question was raised as to whether the planter strip is necessary since 500 North project area is not a subdivision. Will Meet With Council Representatives of the property owners in the area met with city council Tuesday night and discussed several items, (see city council news elsewhere in this paper.) The group also discussed the advantages and disadvantages of a 40-ft. road and a 46-ft. road and it was noted the city has a 66-ft. right of way. Most people seemed to feel that the 46-ft. road would adequately hold the traffic with two lanes for driving and a lane on each side for parking. Concern for Children Until sidewalks are put in, the residents were concerned about their children walking to school along the street. Mr. Mills pointed out that residents in another area of the city had this same concern for students attending Valley View School, and upon the request of parents and the PTA the city had painted a line allowing for a walking area for children on one side of the road. In response to a question on whether 500 North was being planned as part of a large belt route system from Provo to Salt Lake City, Mr. Mills assured them it is not. He said he had talked to every department he could think of who might plan such a road, and was told that although it had been discussed, the plan was not deemed feasible. |