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Nibley Council repeals city trail ordinance By
Stefanie Snow NIBLEY -- The City Council unanimously repealed an ordinance requiring portions of land in newly developed areas along the Blacksmith Fork River to be dedicated to the city for use in a trail system. Public interest in the meeting was high, as it has been for several months, and several people attended the meeting to hear discussion on rezoning and to witness the vote on the ordinance. While it was never decided whether or not the ordinance was unconstitutional, Scott Wells moved to repeal it because it was "just too controversial." The ordinance was originally passed in an effort to satisfy the need for a trail system as outlined in the city's general plan. The removal of this ordinance results in a loss of planned areas for trails, and Councilman Jim Waite said they now have to "start from scratch." The general plan also contains guidelines for preserving Nibley's "rural atmosphere," a term that is subject to multiple interpretations. Nearly every matter discussed in Thursday's meeting addressed the effects on Nibley as a rural community, and decisions were made according to whether or not the proposals adhered to the general plan. A request to rezone three parcels of land, totaling 106 acres, from Agriculture to R-2A was approved after a public hearing was held. The R-2A zone requires a minimum lot size of 14,000 square feet, which is smaller than the one-half acre lots that are currently standard in the city. Residents addressed the issue of whether the decrease in lot size would result in high density, low income areas being segregated from larger parcels. Gary Foster, a resident, asked the council to be careful about how and where lots are added. "Please use careful consideration to preserve my rural setting," Foster said. Planning and Zoning Board member Steve Farnes said people need to realize that the new lot requirements are still "good sized" lots and shouldn't be viewed as exclusive to low-income owners. He said although the lots will meet the state requirement to provide affordable housing, he wished to emphasize that they weren't creating a "ghetto." A request by Craig Anderson for amendment of Meadow Acres subdivision for further development was unanimously denied. The subdivision, at 3556 S. 250 West, consists of four parcels, one of which Anderson owns and wants to divide. The council said one owner within the subdivision and a few others surrounding it were opposed to the new development. Wells made the motion to deny, saying the request was not in keeping with the original intent of the subdivision.
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