Riverton land fight moving to 2 arenas

RIVERTON — The next stage in the battle against the largest residential and commercial development in this rural community's history may be played out in both the voting booth and a courtroom.

Having spent the past month gathering signatures, Riverton residents have filed a petition with Salt Lake County to place a referendum on the election ballot to overturn a zoning approval made by a lame-duck City Council this past December on the last day of their term.

Although the signatures of 2,844 registered voters are required, residents turned in almost twice that many. Organizers of the referendum effort say the some 5,567 signatures show the level of dissatisfaction Riverton residents have with the City Council's decision to allow the rezone of 300 acres of farmland for high-density residential and commercial development in the heart of Riverton.

During a series of public hearings this past December, dozens of Riverton residents urged the council to vote against Hamilton Land's rezone proposal.

The Hamilton family had acquired the farm property in a land swap with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the month before. The proposal includes housing densities higher than any seen in Riverton. Residents who spoke at public hearings said they were against the development because they believed it would draw additional crime and traffic to the area.

"It's the rights of citizens against the rights of developers is what it comes down to," said Riverton resident and state Rep. David Hogue.

One resident, Ben Morris, has filed a lawsuit against Riverton charging the former council violated the city's code in forcing through the rezone, even holding an emergency council meeting on a Saturday morning to vote on the matter.

Despite such citizen efforts to fight the development, there is a chance that construction could start before the referendum hits the ballot.

Although it has yet to be discussed by the new City Council, the referendum might be held during the next municipal election, which is not until November 2005, said City Attorney David Church. Church said the council must discuss whether it wants to instead put the referendum out in an emergency election in the coming months.

Newly elected councilwoman Gayla Brinkerhoff said she is concerned about the situation but added the council needs to be careful what it says due to growing fears that Hamilton Land may sue the city.