He is currently seeking city approval for the Lucky Clover Subdivision South Station proposed in West Jordan at about 7300 South and 1100 West. The subdivision has been before West Jordan's planning commission and city council for the past year. In November 2004, the planning commission recommended that the city council vote against the zoning change, mainly because developers want to build one-way or access roads smaller than the city requires.

While South Station remains in negotiations with the city, zoning changes that would allow the roads appear on the verge of approval.

"We're just going through the normal process on that," said Harper, who used to serve on West Jordan's city council and had at one point been director of economic and community development.

But if legislation works out the way Curtis has discussed, that "process" could become a lot simpler. Curtis wants cities to better justify zoning decisions. If a city can't give specific reasons why a property owner's proposed development is "detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the community," it shouldn't be banned, he believes.

Harper said he has been listening to concerns and answering questions but denies that he is a force behind the idea. Still, he said, he has his doubts about the zoning process.

"Having worked for both the city and private development, I have my own views on the way things should be done and, like any person, would like to see certain things changed that I think would be more responsive to property owners' rights," Harper said.

"Elected officials get calls from a wide variety of people, and we're responding to some of the issues and some of the requests," he said.

Curtis has also played a role in South Station's attempts to build Lucky Clover. At a Sept. 27 meeting, he spoke to the West Jordan City Council to answer legal questions about the land-use issues surrounding the proposed development.

Harper said Curtis, now in private practice, was asked to attend the meeting because he is a previous city attorney for West Jordan and knows its workings. He said that was the first time South Station has used Curtis as an attorney, and his talk at the council meeting had nothing to do with the possible legislation.

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E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com