From Deseret News archives:
Aid considered for slide victims
The County Council on Wednesday held its work-session meeting at the intersection of Creekside Drive and River View Circle, right on the southern boundary of a slow-moving landslide that has been plaguing the upscale Highlands West subdivision for more than a year.
The council saw bulges and cracks in the road's asphalt, bowing sidewalks, cracked walls and foundations on homes and clear signs that the earth has been moving. The landslide has already forced one woman from her home, and residents worry any of their homes could be next.
"We're not looking to lay blame," resident Brian Pugh told the council. "We're looking for help, and we're looking to the county for that."
And while several residents agreed that they want solutions, not finger-pointing, many also talked about conversations they have had with their attorneys. At least one resident, Brad Hall, has already filed a lawsuit against his homebuilder. Nancy Hayes, who had to move when her home was deemed unsafe to inhabit in April, is considering legal action against the company that carried out a geotechnical study on her lot before her home was built.
"It's unfortunate that a homeowner is being faced with this," he said. "I don't see any county liability, but you have a council that is very concerned about" what can be done to solve the problem.
The area on which the 3-year-old neighborhood lies has been known to be an active landslide for decades. Several studies over the years have looked at whether the land could be developed. It has long been designated as a landslide area on county maps, so the county's subdivision ordinance required geotechnical studies to be carried out before the homes were built.
The developer, Bart Smith, is now a member of the council. He has recused himself from council discussions regarding Highlands West to avoid a conflict of interest and was not at Wednesday's meeting.
Farris said the county walks a fine line between regulating where homes can and cannot be built and treading on property owners' rights.
"When you start restricting people's use of their land, it can become a taking," a legal action that requires the county to pay the landowner, Farris said.
Comments
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime 1:11 a.m.
- UVU beats SUU; USU wins big 12:57 a.m.
- BYU spikers end season with a loss 12:55 a.m.
- Iverson may be headed to 76ers 12:34 a.m.
- Credit Coug defense for win 12:33 a.m.
- Aggies blow away T-birds 12:32 a.m.
- Mo steals show in Cavaliers' victory 12:31 a.m.
- Editorial: Facilitate Big Brother? 12:22 a.m.
- Mom befriends wife of PTSD vet 12:21 a.m.
- Political clash over U.S. debt 12:21 a.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- BYU is champion of the state
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Idaho woman dies after fall
- Woods, wife unavailable for interview
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Man dies in dirt bike crash
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
396 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
173 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
70
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....
watch out for next year for sure, the negatives are just closet (and...
And something else, I generally follow players from the state schools when...
I could care less that Max Hall said what he did. The feeling is mutual BYU...
Dear Max, probably could have done without that comment. Probably would've...
As a Utah fan, let me first say congratulations to Max Hall, the Cougars, and...
Geno's and Pat's are good.. but, they are mostly for tourists, the real...
(You even got a middle initial... how's that for 'ya Max) It's nice to see...
Even today, I still cannot get enough of this movie or Charles Gitonga Maina....
...disappointed with Max Hall's comments that he hates everything about UofU....
Over the last few days I read comments of people complaining about tasteless...




You can be the first to comment on this story.