Thursday, December 6, 2012
The Crossroads Journal
Page 3
Townhome proj- Opportunity ect approved near for giving back SS golf course Nearby residents disappointed during the holiday season
By LeeAnn Bohman
Managing Editor/Staff Writer
A long, drawn out debate between Saratoga Springs Development (SSD) residents and City Council members was resolved at the November 13 City Council meeting. The Saratoga Springs City Council voted 3-2 to approve the Green Springs townhome development located at 1855 South Centennial Boulevard. The development’s approval process had drawn large crowds of people to recent City Council meetings. Sometimes residents filled the seating, the hall and the stairway. The SSD residents opposed the 77-unit development, stating that the “mansion-style” townhomes did not belong in a neighborhood of large custom homes. Residents mentioned the increased traffic on Centennial Boulevard. The neighbors reminded the council that the master development agreement that
granted the R-6 density to a previous developer had expired and did not apply to the current applicant. Residents also felt misled by an old sign on the property that promised only 36 homes. During City Council discussion, Councilman Michael McOmber stated that he had called Utah County that day and asked what the zoning was on the Green Springs property. He was told that it was zoned low density residential. The original developer had failed to record the R-6 zone when he was granted such in 2004. McOmber made the point that many of these residents had showed due diligence in trying to be informed about what future developments might be built near them. But he felt in doing this, they were still unable to find accurate information. McOmber argued that because the R-6 zone was not properly recorded, the R-3 zone should stand. Councilman Bud Poduska
countered some of the residents’ arguments. He believed that the Green Springs developer had a constitutional property right to develop his land. He stated that the original intent of the city and of the developer was to develop medium-density housing. A subsequent opinion of a property rights ombudsman also supported the higher density zone. Poduska concluded saying that the safety concerns of residents were not supported by traffic studies. He reminded residents that what should be compared is the impact of 48 homes (the number allowed in an R-3 zone) versus 77 homes (the number allowed in an R-6 zone). It is a difference of 29 homes, Poduska concluded, and he didn’t think the difference produced insurmountable safety issues. In the end, Bud Poduska, Shellie Baertsch, and Rebecca Call approved the R-6 zone. Michael McOmber and Jim Miller voted against the motion.
By Emily Fotheringham Staff Writer Eagle Mountain residents Dustin and Aimee Dodd received a shock in October when Dustin was diagnosed with brain cancer. Only 31 years old, Dustin had been experiencing headaches, which were dismissed at doctor’s visits as being due to overtiredness. Eventually extra tests were administered and the cancer was discovered. The very next day the doctors at the University of Utah operated in an effort to remove the cancerous mass. Although initially responsive after the surgery, Dustin soon relapsed and has not woken up for over a month. Dustin had been working at
Kennecott, while Aimee is a stay at home mom. They have six young children, the oldest of which is nine. The family has adopted the phrase NEGU which means “Never ever give up.” The family was recently highlighted on 97.1 ZHT’s morning show where they were recipients of Sub for Santa. Besides surgery for the cancer, Dustin has also developed blood clots and has at times needed to breathe through a ventilator. The medical bills are starting to mount so a website has been set up in an effort to raise funds for this family. Please visit www.gofundme.com/Dodd-FamilyDonations . The goal is to raise $50,000 and so far they have raised a few hundred. There is also a Facebook page for the Dodd family.
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