From Deseret News archives:
Blighted or oppressed?
Businesses charge W. Bountiful abused its RDA powers
Of the 30 or so businesses that had shops on the site where Costco was built, at least two have gone out of business. Others, including Barton's Scooters & Motor Sports, may soon close.
Robert Barton, owner of the scooter shop, is meeting with attorneys to see if he can sue West Bountiful for loss of business. It's not that the city didn't have the right to assist in wooing a bigger store, he said. It's how they did it.
And that's the rub.
To help bring Costco into the city, West Bountiful officials declared the area west of 500 West and between 400 North and 200 South a redevelopment agency project. The area was legitimately blighted, according to city manager Wendell Wild. It had been developed "piecemeal" with conflicting land uses, he said.
"It's going to be a matter of opinion in regards to whether we should or shouldn't have done what we did," said Wild. "I believe and I think our RDA attorney and RDA consultant would feel and think the same that this was an ideal situation for using RDA funds."
But the businesses that used to occupy the area say they were thriving there.
"This was not a negotiation," he said. "It was like coming up to someone and saying, 'Listen sweetheart, you're going to marry me,' and then putting a gun to their head."
He continued: "If people are decent. If city officials are decent, God-fearing officials, they will realize that what they are doing is wrong. You don't kick people out of homes and businesses and give them not a third of the money they deserve so they can bring in Costco and Bed Bath & Beyond and Applebees."
Lawmakers are currently studying the scope of RDA powers in Utah. A bill approved by the state Legislature last year put a one-year ban on RDA projects. The use of eminent domain was also banned.
Proponents say RDAs are one of the few tools cities can use to redevelop blighted areas. An RDA is typically used to divert property taxes back to a development to assist with infrastructure and other costs.
Comments
- Sands China stock tumbles in debut 9:21 a.m.
- Vegas pinning hopes on CityCenter 9:20 a.m.
- Saab CEO courting buyers in Detroit 9:19 a.m.
- Court won't disturb $82M award 9:18 a.m.
- Rumor: Papers paid to shun Google 9:17 a.m.
- Gov't pressures mortgage industry 9:15 a.m.
- Salvation Army kettle stolen 9:05 a.m.
- Charges filed in ATM theft 9:05 a.m.
- Army teams nurture mental health 9:04 a.m.
- Man suspected of killing family 9:04 a.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Y. student vanished in China
- BYU is champion of the state
- Max Hall issues apology
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Boy shot following traffic stop
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
873 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
477 - Max Hall issues apology
223 - BYU is champion of the state
138 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
119 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
116 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
114 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Hall's legacy measured today
79 - Utes fall to Seattle U. at home
65
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
I want to personally thank our law enforcement officers who put their lives...
Would the new LDS Ambassador to China be of any help to this family? Just a...
"As I have loved you...."
Max, there are plenty of us out there that feel as you do, you just happen to...
what was said, was wrong, but what happend last year was also wrong? Iblame...
MWC Fan. Remember last year when the Aggies played in Cedar City? They...
I have to agree with his original statement - and the fact that the...
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Remind me of the date and time that the University of Utah apologized to Max...
What Mr. Warren fails to grasp is that our politics are a reflection of our...




You can be the first to comment on this story.