The LDS Church (through its PRI subsidiary) and Taubman are making an incredible investment and commitment to the long term viability of Salt Lake City's downtown. The City Council needs to be an active and supportive partner in assuring that this development meets the expectations that both the City and the developer's have for this project.

Also, critical for members of the Council is support for ongoing development of light rail and commuter rail connections to our Intermodal Hub as well as development of a circulator bus system specifically design for ease of access in our downtown areas. Such ease of access will be a critical component of any successful downtown residential efforts.

Question 3: One of the biggest issues of late in District 3 has been people tearing down traditional homes and replacing them with monster homes. Some say new, bigger homes are needed to attract families to the city and maintain property values. Others feel these large homes are ugly and aren't compatible with the city's traditional neighborhoods. What's your opinion? How should city government handle this issue?

Answer: My feeling is that we retain the character of our unique neighborhoods be maintaining compatibility between newer housing and the design and size of existing housing. Neighborhoods will evolve as families grow and as the need for more space becomes a reality. The City should develop, as I have recommended for months, a set of area specific design guidelines that will allow families, architects and contractors to know exactly how they can remodel homes in a way to strengthen neighborhoods, not destroy the very fabric that makes such neighborhoods unique. These guidelines need to be carefully crafted with the help of City Planning, practicing architects and neighborhoods so that the greatest amount of collaborative input will have been found. We can allow our neighborhoods to retain their vibrancy and evolve at the same time.

Question 4: There has been much talk about developing the city's Northwest Quadrant, which lies west of the airport. Some see this area as a place where tens of thousands of residents could eventually live in master planned communities. However, there are some concerns. Some want the area preserved as natural open space. Others say it's too costly to put homes way out there. Police and fire services in the city are already stretched thin and putting houses five miles west of downtown would further strap public safety and other services like public utilities. Still, proponents maintain the city needs to add more residents so it remains Utah's largest city and keeps it's political clout in the face of other rapidly growing municipalities. What's your vision for the Northwest Quadrant? If you favor development how will the city pay for it?