A Salt Lake County committee has begun work toward the possible creation of a county ordinance restricting "monster homes" in Millcreek Township.

The Salt Lake County Compatible Housing Stakeholders Committee held its first meeting Friday to discuss the issue of homes being built that don't match the character of the neighborhood, either because of size, lot placement or other issues. The Salt Lake County Council voted to create the board in April to allow contributions by representatives of all groups that would be affected by such an ordinance.

Tom Schafer, a county senior planner, said he had received e-mails and phone calls from hundreds of people on the issue, and he had passed out summaries of those comments to the committee members. Many of the comments expressed concern that one giant home in a neighborhood of smaller homes looks out of place, ruins the views of neighbors and can be a threat to neighbors' privacy.

The committee is made up of Millcreek residents, architects, builders, realtors and others who have some interest in the issue. Committee members spent much of the meeting trying to determine exactly what their job was and how best to do it.

County Councilman Mark Crockett told committee members they don't have to agree on everything, but they should work to find good ways to balance property owners' rights and the rights of neighbors. The committee will hold two more meetings before presenting its conclusions to the County Council.

A similar ordinance is in effect in Salt Lake City that restricts the allowable height of homes in certain neighborhoods such as the Avenues. The ordinance also regulates the placement of homes on the lot.

The committee plans to address topics in upcoming meetings such as building coverage ratio, maximum floor space, required home distances from the edge of the lot and maximum building height requirements.

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