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Layton unsettled: Despite community members' pleas, council backs plan
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This was not a "not in my backyard" issue. It was an issue of whether the development is being done responsibly. Area residents recognize that development will occur - we just want it done in a responsible manner.
Good luck folks as you will need it!
If the city says NO after the owner has met all of the conditions set by ordinance and law then the owner of the property has grounds for a LAWSUIT and can SUE the city for damages.Do you realize how many subdivisions that are built because when the vote is taken the developer has his ATTORNEYS waiting for a NO vote????
Fruit Heights City was forced to approve a subdivision sitting over an area known to have springs and water in wet years and nothing in dry years but after the required STUDIES WERE MADE, it was determined there was not a problem.When the City balked a LAWSUIT was filed. To keep the city from being destroyed because they knew they would LOSE IN COURT,approved the subdivision. RESULT?? They have had some water problems but the real result will come with time.
SAD DECISION??? Yes--- Right decision??? Legally, YES-- but in the long run I'm betting it was wrong.
If this is so much an issue of safety and public welfare, then each and every argument against the rezoning would also be support to condemn the existing houses and tear them down.
The community would be much better off if the existing houses were condemned and torn down because of the large landslide possibility-it would save insurance claims and disaster cleanup; the community welfare would be much better without all of the current houses on the sensitive lands,etc. Lets restore the sensitive lands to what they used to be and then protect them for our children!
This is rampant pride and "King of the hill" mentality: I've got my house, and you don't get yours. Worse than a bunch of crabs getting boiled in a pot. Horrible that this even exists in Utah much less people loudly proclaiming such despicable pride.
The homes, however, are well kept, have added value to my own property and there are some very nice people living in them. That's called development. Those complaining now are living in homes that intruded on someone else's 'open fields' at one time.
WE have lost our view of the lovely hills, nothing but crappy condo's gone in, hills leveled to build homes, etc, Now the cost of selling these places is not happening, so they sit empty, becoming complete eye sores etc. yes follow the mney, people do not count.
SO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING BECAUSE IT DOES NOT EFFECT YOU, THEN IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER. WELL THIS COULD BE HAPPENING IN YOUR BACK YARD. WOULD YOU WANT THEM TAKING A CHANCE ON BUILDING ON PROPERTY LIKE THIS NEAR YOU. YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF YOUR LITTLE WORLD AND GO LOOK AT THE PROPERTY. THERE IS SO MUCH WRONG WITH IT.
Second, as many have said, the council is just following the law. Public comment is sought in many government actions and is listened to. However, unless you have some well laid-out, scientific and/or legal proof that something illegal may happen due to the council's decision, they cannot throw out the law.
It is difficult to accept sometimes, but you really do need more than emotionally based objections. If your fears are founded in reality, you must prove it.
Have any of you provided the council with professional geotechnical reports that back your theories? If not, they cannot just listen to fears that may prove to be unfounded.
All they can base their decision on is the information they have at hand, and they must rely on information that is professionally prepared and based on cold, hard facts.
I am sorry for all of your work that you feel was not listened to, but if you want changes, work to change the laws, or as Councilman Freitag suggested, to update the city's development plan.
Conjecture and assumptions with no underlying proof do not get you anywhere. Two separate geotechnical firms have already determined that this development can be done safely. There may be some out there who are dishonest enough to give the customer what they want rather than the truth, but most will base their findings on sound science. They even err on the side of caution. If they mess up, they could lose their license and livelihood.
The article also emphasizes that there will be further requirements to ensure stability as they proceed.
Those of you who are complaining about more traffic, high density housing, etc. Welcome to the world. Unless you own the open space near your home, prepare for it to become some type of development. The city should not keep the landowner from exercising their property rights so that you can have less traffic or higher property values.
Layton City still has the opportunity to purchase this land and develop a wilderness park that could be enjoyed by thousands of Layton residents.
There is much evidence of landslides it is surrounded by past landslides N,S,E,W,NW, and NE.
This ares is clearly identified as sensitive lands, and land slide danger in reports going back 100 years.
The city council did not listen to anyone but the developer. An established pattern in Layton. I hope someone will follow the money.
I'm embarrassed for y'all.
If someone exercises their right to develop property they own it won't destroy your neighborhood. Talk about ignorance and uneducated fearmongering!
Attempting to usurp the rights of a legal, lawful property owner is unconstitutional, and you braying donkeys ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Stop whining that you weren't able to exert tyranny over this property owner. If you don't like the development, offer to purchase it, at fair market value, from the property owner!
Someone properly developing unused space in a populated suburban area is NOT going to ruin your homes. Do you honestly think that the firms doing the studies would risk losing their reputations, their businesses over this? Don't be ridiculous. Stop being tyrannical! Buy the property if you don't like it. Stop trying to deprive others of rights!
Why? Because you are throwing out accusations with no proof. You are claiming that this decision gives the developer the green light to do whatever they want with the land, with no further oversight from the city. That is not true.
You claim that this will endanger the public health and safety, but give no sound scientific basis. Looking at a "scare" (did you mean scar or scarp?) does not prove anything.
You even go so far as to insinuate corruption just because you didn't get your way.
You come across as whiners, and nobody listens to whiners. Please present clear, logical, fact-based arguments if you wish to sway opinions.
BTW, anyone who buys a home on a hill and does not have sound engineering and geologic information showing it to be stable is a fool.
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