5 in Draper focus on growth

DRAPER — The pressure on Draper officials to develop commercial and residential properties over the past few years has increased exponentially, and this year's City Council candidates have noted the effects of that pressure.

Each of the five candidates seeking two at-large City Council seats mentions that managing the effects of growth and preserving open space are vital issues to their community. Otherwise, these five candidates — one of whom will be eliminated in the Oct. 4 primary election — have interests as diverse as their backgrounds.

Two candidates follow development issues from their spots on the Draper Planning Commission, another watches over public safety as a police officer and yet another has experience on the council. From their various positions in Draper, they all point to one piece of open space preservation that has captivated this south valley suburb for years: Corner Canyon.

The thousand-acre canyon contains prime recreational trails that Draper residents thought they were voting to preserve with a bond in last year's election. A few months ago, however, residents learned the $7 million bond would purchase only a portion of the canyon.

The field of five candidates will narrow to four after the primary election; then, voters will choose two at-large City Council members in the Nov. 8 election.

The candidates responded to questionnaires from the Deseret Morning News. Summaries of their biographies follow:

• Gerald Allred, 44, wants "to have the opportunity to be involved with the maturing of this secluded country town into an industrious suburban destination spot," he said.

The city's growth needs management of its public safety, said Allred, a police officer.

"I will help educate the citizens in prevention techniques and watchfulness and help them take ownership in their community so that criminals will not be welcome in Draper," he said.

Allred also wants to see more community councils and the preservation of more open space in Draper.

• Stephanie Davis, 37, pushed for the geologic hazards ordinance that now requires developers to carry out studies before their plans can be approved by the City Council and Planning Commission, of which Davis is a member.

All development, she said, "needs to be of superior quality," and "when transitions are made from residential development to commercial development, great care needs to be given."

Davis also supports Corner Canyon open space, which she refers to as Draper's version of Central Park in New York.