By Jacob Fullmer

September 29, 2006 | NIBLEY -- Residents expressed concern over road safety, and a prospective business failed to meet standards at the city's Planning and Zoning meeting Wednesday.

Brian Anderson spoke on road safety during a public hearing about rezoning approximately 24 acres near 1500 West and 3200 South. The zone change will allow an incoming subdivision.

"Safety. Safety. Safety," Anderson said. "That's my thing." Anderson, a long time resident of Nibley, said he saw two girls pushing strollers on the side of the road with nowhere to walk. For years, he has felt the need to improve the roads, particularly 3200 South.

Kari Jaussi said her four kids want to ride their bikes but "there's nowhere to go."

Many of the citizens attending the meeting laughed when Anderson said the city doesn't need to worry about the railroad tracks being the best speed bump in town until they can fix the roads.

Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Wayne Anderson told the public the city has taken design proposals for 3200 South "from the old church house to the corner."

Besides his concern with road safety, Brian Anderson feels the city government is doing a "fine job.

After two hours of debate, it was decided to continue discussion on a Maverik Country Store coming to town until a later date. Brad McDougal of Maverik, Inc. said he didn't expect to be talking about setback requirements again. It is in question if the building McDougal has proposed fits setback requirements in relation to a neighboring property.

McDougal works with city governments in Utah and Idaho to bring Maverik stores to new areas. He is responsible for stores in West Jordan, Perry, and Pocatello, Idaho. Usually, he says, the company is able to finish the planning process with cities in three or four months. According to McDougal, plans to bring a store to Nibley have been in process for 16 months.

"They're having some growing pains right now," said McDougal.

McDougal believes the growing pains he and the city are experiencing are because the city is having to adjust to a brand new zone. The neighborhood commercial zone where Maverik plans to build is the first of its kind.

Commission Member Larry Jacobsen believes this zone will be a good buffer between commercial and residential zones.

The council tied in voting to approve or deny the final design. Commission Members Aaron Bliesner and Shawn Del Hunsaker voted to deny the building. Hunsaker feels the addition is not neighborhood friendly. Chairman Anderson and Jacobsen voted to approve the building.

Early in the discussion, members of the commission disagreed on setback requirements articulated in the code. Jacobson said he's not one to typically ignore city code but felt it was too late in the game to ask McDougal to change his building plan.

Amidst a possible increase of architectural and engineering costs, McDougal says he'll keep coming back until the city tells him he can't.

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