Hyde Park council approves Northern Meadows plans despite traffic safety concerns

By Brittny Goodsell Jones

November 14, 2008 | HYDE PARK -- Preliminary plans for a hot topic subdivision that borders North Logan were approved Wednesday 3 to 1 at the City Council meeting. Northern Meadows Subdivision, at 730 South and 50 East streets, is getting attention because it brings up development of new roads in the future and may create busier roads in the meantime.

Residents brought concern towards Phase 1 development because it will increase the traffic flow on 50 East, an already busy street. Phase 1, 22 acres for residential homes, runs on 50 East in Hyde Park. With 50 East being a main street for many residents most are concerned with safety problems.

At last week's planning and zoning meeting, resident Ben Clegg said adding ten times the cars on the 50 East road will only increase the busy problem. According to minutes of that meeting, the original plan for Northern Meadows Subdivision had an east to west road that took care of safety concerns and gave drivers more options to take than the 50 East road. However, because of the voice of the people, the property was not rezoned as requested, states the minutes. So, the developers are left to plan possible traffic problems as well as they can with the current zoning.

Councilman David James said he thinks the development will actually decrease the amount of traffic on 50 East since the 730 South road will be there for use.

Councilman Kelly, who joined the meeting by phone, voted against preliminary plat approval. "I expected more open space than so much development," he said. "Is it in the spirit of what we want for the city?"

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