| Golf
course proposed for west side of Hyrum; landowners
complain
By Devin Felix
April 23, 2007 | HYRUM -- West Hyrum may be home to
a new 18-hole golf course and upscale housing community
in the next few years, but not if some nearby landowners
have anything to say about it.
Despite concerns over its legality, the Hyrum City
Council accepted a petition from a group of developers,
led by Jerry Robinson, who want to annex a large chunk
of land for a golf course and development near Hyrum
Reservoir.
Council member Stephanie Miller said the petition
contained signatures from people who don't own land
in the proposed area, and the developers used outdated
maps. She said the council accepted the petition so
the city could publicly consider the proposal, and examine
whether the petition was legally handled, rather than
relying on rumors and speculation. In order for a petition
for annexation to be considered, it must be signed by
at least 30 percent of landowners in the proposed area.
City Administrator D. Brent Jensen emphasized that
by accepting the petition, the council was not approving
the annexation, and had no obligation to do so. Legally,
he said, the council is required to accept any petition
for annexation without passing judgment on it.
About 30 citizens attended the meeting, most of whom
own land in or near the proposed area. Several landowners
in area said they have been "harassed" by the developers
repeatedly offering to buy their land, despite being
refused every time. One landowner, who refused to be
identified, said Robinson and his colleagues had frequently
lied to landowners, telling them their neighbors had
agreed to sell their land, when they actually hadn't.
Several of those who attended the meeting didn't actually
own land in the proposed area, Miller said, but may
have thought they did because the proposed boundaries
of the development had not yet been made public.
Now that the petition has been accepted, the council
can hold public hearings on the annexation.
"I love the concept, but I'm also a strong proponent
of property owners' rights," said Mayor Dean Howard.
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