Zoning fight may pit Utah, cities

The fear is that cities would be forced to have industrial uses or municipal solid-waste dumps right next to housing developments.

Curtis said such "sky is falling" attitudes are overblown. He said it would be easy for cites to justify why having a solid waste dump in the middle of a residential area would harm the health, safety or welfare of the community.

"In the years past, people developed their property as they wanted, and then cities became larger and started planning, and the burden shifted from the city to prove that what was being proposed was inappropriate to now where the property owner has to justify what he wants," said Harper, who once served as West Jordan City's chief of economic development. "I think Speaker Curtis wants to shift that back to the way it used to be."

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