Residents
concerned about Mendon's zoning ordinance changes
By M.
Kathryn Hanberg
March 18, 2008 | MENDON -- Many residents expressed
concern recently about changes made to the city zoning
ordinance. The changes under consideration would affect
many residents involved in 4H as well as agricultural
businesses.
The first of the changes involves requiring all new
agriculture buildings to acquire a building permit prior
to construction. Many individuals spoke of Senate Bill
205, which states, "Except in a residential area, a
structure used solely in conjunction with agriculture
use, and not for human occupancy, is exempted from the
permit requirements of any building code adopted by
the division."
Because of this bill, the City Council chose to wait
on changing this part of the ordinance until an attorney
can look further into the bill.
Changes in the ordinance also included putting more
restrictions on the number of animals being housed on
a 1 1/4-acre lot or smaller. For example, a family can
no longer have more than one horse or one cow on a lot
that size, said Councilman Jason Wooden.
Many residents were concerned with how this would
affect their children in 4H. Many suggestions were made
to look into seasonal permits which would allow more
than the suggested limit while the child is in 4H. These
suggestions will be mentioned and discussed in the next
Planning and Zoning meeting Wednesday.
Mitch Frost, an officer at the Juvenile Youth Office,
said they are working on starting a Youth Safety Council.
"This council is not meant to take the place of City
Youth Councils," said Frost. It is started to give the
youth of Cache Valley an opportunity to bring concerns
to the officer overlooking the council. These can be
concerns from bullying to crosswalks.
"We want to borrow someone from your City Youth Council.
We are looking for older individual 16-18 years old
who would be willing to work with us," said Frost.
The council will be meeting quarterly alternating
between Sky View and Mountain Crest high schools. The
county is hoping to have the first meeting by the end
of the school year.
Greg Larsen, Mendon Elementary principal and former
Providence Elementary principal for nine years, informed
the council that Mendon Elementary is scheduled to be
done on time. On March 27, a meeting will be held at
Willow Valley Middle School to discuss many issues such
as safe routes to the school from town, the name, mascot
and colors of the school and electing a school community
council.
"I want this school to be the heart of the community,"
said Larsen.
There is also discussion of having the Mendon Cottage
Library become a part of the school. Currently the library
is in a residential home, but the contract will be ending
by the end of June and has requested monthly rent if
the contract is extended.
"It would be more affordable to combine with the school,
but this option is still under discussion," said Paula
Watkins, Mendon Cottage Library employee.
Lisa Hopkins was also voted in as the coordinator
to the Mendon Cottage Library.
Josh Hanks, Intermountain Environmental Inc. employee,
discussed the option of installing a telemetry system
in the Mendon Reservoir. This would allow hired individuals
to read the water levels of the tanks without having
to travel to the reservoir. The automated reporting
pumps can be placed in a vehicle or in a specific building
to be viewed, said Hanks.
"There would be a sensor on each tank eventually,
but we would start with just one. The initial price
for one sensor is about $12,000," said Hanks.
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