Vineyard to bear rich fruit

VINEYARD — It's a quiet place. There are a handful of homes, a pristine lake view and room to grow.

Nestled between Utah Lake and Orem, the small town of Vineyard won't stay quiet for long, with the recent sale of the Geneva Steel property, two planned housing developments and the lure of spacious, lake-front property. It's going to start growing. And soon.

"Trying to build a town is huge," said Mayor Randy Farnworth. "(But) that's the nice thing about having everybody develop around you. If you're smart, you'll look at what they did that was good and bad. You have a lot of examples out there."

To help ensure good growth and preparation for the anticipated population boom, the city hired Bruce Parker and an assistant to work as consultants. They previously worked at a Salt Lake planning firm

Parker, who serves as the principal consultant for planning and development, has been working with the Town Council to modify the general plan and the zoning map, which in the past has been limited to farm and industrial categories. The Town Council and residents want to ensure the preservation of the town's agricultural history.

Vineyard shares a border with Orem — from 800 South to 1600 North — as well as some services, including police and fire protection and some water and sewer lines. As the city grows, that may have to change.

Transportation will also be a major issue as the town grows.

The Utah Department of Transportation will start an environmental impact study this spring to look at possible improvements for Geneva Road. The study will take two years and cost $1.5 million, said UDOT regional spokesman Geoff Dupaix.

There is also talk of getting commuter rail in the county — another answer to the growing traffic concerns. The line — as currently designed — would pass through Vineyard alongside the existing Union Pacific railroad tracks.

The Utah Transit Authority owns 175 miles of corridor, stretching from Payson to Brigham City. Commuter rail construction from Salt Lake County to Weber County started last fall and will cost almost $600 million when it is finished in 2008.

Although there is interest in Utah County for commuter rail, the funds aren't yet available, said UTA spokesman Justin Jones.