North
Logan residents tell council their worries about housing
development
By Diana Hurren
April 9, 2006 | NORTH LOGAN -- More
than 50 residents attended Thursday's City Council meeting
to express concerns about a proposed subdivision. The
146-acre subdivision has recently been proposed for
rezoning. One section of the subdivision is zoned for
56 lots, and if the proposed change is approved the
new zoning would only allow 50 lots to be built.
"Our staff recommends approval of the rezone request,"
said former North Logan city planner and economic development
specialist Cordell Batt.
Besides rezoning, many residents had concerns with
the amount of traffic the subdivision would add to roads
such as 1600 East. They were also concerned about the
subdivision being built over an old dump, and for the
impact the subdivision might have on the sewer system
which has already met capacity.
"I've heard there are some really creepy things in
that dump," said concerned parent Lydia Embry.
Marta Deberard, another concerned mother, said the
subdivision will change the way all of the current residents
live. She's concerned about the environment surrounding
the subdivision. She said it is would be very near a
fault line and in a watershed zone.
"This is what we need. We appreciate hearing from
you," said Councilman Trent Wentz as the council closed
the hearing. "Thank you very much."
In other business, the Utah State University Innovation
Campus, represented by Tereasa McKnight, proposed that
the city take over the responsibility of maintaining
the main road that runs through the campus. The Innovation
Campus has been maintaining all of their own roadways
including snow plowing for many years and now see fit
for North Logan to take over.
McKnight said in 2004 the Innovation Campus's 46 businesses
brought $364 million of revenue into North Logan. The
council acknowledged and commended the campus for the
many jobs and opportunities and economic assets they
bring to the city.
"We've had a very positive relationship with the campus
for many years now," said Mayor Watkins as he made a
motion to support the campus's proposal.
McKnight also proposed full or at least partial support
from the city for installing two new roads through the
campus.
"Roads are very expensive as you know; I don't know
how we would do that," said Wentz who had just attended
a two-hour budget meeting earlier Thursday.
The council told McKnight the city would support the
campus any way they could, but funding for roads might
not be possible. They encouraged the campus to seek
further grant money and agreed to maintain the new roads
once they are built.
The council also established three new advisory boards
at the meeting. They are a budget and finance committee,
a cemetery board and a parks and recreation board. These
committees have already been functioning in one way
or another, said Jeff Jorgenson, but Thursday they were
finally made official.
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