An additional move, already taken place, that will be reflected in the 2005-06 budget is moving economic development directly under the purview of the city manager. Sears said the city manager's job relates closely enough to development that in past years, people who came to talk to economic development personnel would usually leave that office and go straight to the city manager's office.

The new arrangement would simplify the process by allowing everything to happen in the same office, Sears said.

While many are supporting the simplifying process, many are saying the city needs to improve in the development planning, not just the paperwork process.

Robinson said the city needs to maintain open space and stay away from high-density housing.

"We have to be careful what we put in," he said. "High density isn't good. Tax base goes up but quality of life goes down."

Sweeney said development in the city doesn't always make sense, and Draper is becoming a "little Park City" with property taxes to match. But in the end, he said, simplifying the process will probably help.

"If they're organized a little bit better," he said, "they can move forward with Draper being one of the nicer areas of the Salt Lake Valley. That's why we moved here."

---

E-mail: dhinckley@desnews.com