North
Logan residents and officials hop on the bus for a city
planning 'field trip'
By Natalie Andrews
September 29, 2005 | NORTH LOGAN -- Sometimes,
the planning goes to the lot. The City Council, Planning
Commission and residents jumped aboard an LTD bus to
do just that and take a field trip Tuesday. They toured
Logan's Cliffside area, Smithfield, and Hyde Park and
ended at their own east bench to scan approaching development
and make a plan before it was too late.
Mayor Val Potter doesn't like that large-acre lots
on the city's east side are poorly irrigated and unkempt.
"These are the large lots, where anything goes," Potter
said, motioning to Hyde Park's lots that are zoned for
large settlements.
The mayor may face opposition.
"I don't think this looks that bad," others on the
bus said. The residents want the city to pump canal
water to the east bench, currently they water their
lawns with culinary water. High water bills are the
reason many edges are yellow.
"That's what happens when your don't have any money;
you're pouring it all into your mortgage," Bill Furlong
of the planning commission said of the large homes and
yellow lawns.
The council and planning commission have a few solutions
to preserve open space and cure the water problems.
One is a mixture in lot size that would result in a
variety of socioeconomic backgrounds.
"A lot of people like the variety instead of these
cracker box houses," Councilman Mark Williams said.
"It gives you a different feel."
The city is also looking at clustering developments,
so that developments are grouped together, with open
space on the outside. Residents on the bus raised the
question of meaningful open space. Potter agreed that
the issue would have to be looked into further.
Issues facing the council and commission are the 1200
East thoroughfare, the question of a cemetery, and zoning
on the hill. As the bus bounced along North Logan's
1200 East, many worried how residents living along the
road will react when the proposed widening begins to
face the council.
One part of the open space issue is the cemetery,
jokingly referred to as the "c" word because of its
controversial nature during the city's elections.
"Once you eliminate your rural, it's gone forever,"
resident Linda Burt said. "And there is only so much
left."
The sun set over their city as the council and residents
disembarked. They looked at encroaching development
and decided they wanted a plan. "I just want to make
sure it's developed right," Williams said.
NW
MS |
