West Valley clears home zone despite Alliant fears

WEST VALLEY CITY — City officials hope stronger glass and smaller windows will be enough protection from possible concussive blasts for homes to be built in the medium overpressure zone next to Alliant Techsystems.

In a unanimous vote Tuesday evening, the West Valley City Council rezoned some 116 acres near 4448 South and 6000 West so Anderson Development can build single-family houses on lots smaller than 8,000 square feet.

The decision followed months of wrangling with Anderson Development, which at one point threatened to take legal action against the city to get the development cleared.

The issue has been the potential safety concerns of building so close to Alliant Techsystems. West Valley City community and economic development specialist John Jansen said the worry was that a possible explosion at the rocket plant could blow out the windows of the homes and turn the shards of glass into projectiles.

On Tuesday, Mayor Dennis Nordfelt acknowledged the months it had taken to reach an agreement with the developer.

"It seems like many years sometimes," he said.

Anderson Development attorney Michael Hutchings said his company has agreed to use stronger glass and smaller windows in the homes to prevent damage and human injury.

City Administrator Wayne Pyle said the rezone would only apply to the 116 acres in question and would not impact the remaining land within the overpressure zone.

Councilwoman Margaret Peterson cautioned Anderson officials that the development needs to be of a quality that would benefit the community. Hutchings said the development would be of an acceptable quality.

Anderson Development still must negotiate with the Utah Department of Transportation, which has eventual plans to build a highway through the development. Hutchings said his company is currently in negotiations with UDOT to preserve the highway corridor.

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