From Deseret News archives:
'Yes' on Sandy referendum
If we had our druthers, the entire 107-acre site would be set aside as a regional park. The Salt Lake Valley's earliest "city planners" had remarkable vision in establishing Liberty Park. It is a treasure enjoyed year-round. Imagine the multigenerational benefits of establishing a large regional park at the south end of the valley in 2005.
But that's not the choice before Sandy voters on Tuesday. Voters will decide whether to keep a zoning change approved as an ordinance by the Sandy City Council in November 2004 but essentially held in abeyance pending the outcome of this referendum. That zoning designation would permit "big box" retail establishments as part of mixed-use zoning at the site of a former gravel pit. If the referendum fails, the existing zoning would remain, which allows very specific land uses but expressly prohibits home-improvement stores, grocery stores and discount stores, among others.
Some may view this referendum as an opportunity to take a stand against big-box developments. We believe a far greater principle is at stake protecting a municipality's authority to properly plan and zone. Special-interest groups may do a good job of defining issues and concerns, but municipal planning processes are highly complex. City planners attempt to sculpt communities that enhance quality of life, encourage needed services and recreational opportunities and promote public safety. They make recommendations to planning commissions, which are eventually forwarded to city councils. There are ample opportunities for the public to be heard throughout the process.
Comments
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106
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