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Thursday, October 17, 2013
Connecting Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs
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Community comes High-density together to support housing on SS ballot Gunderson’s family By Arianne Brown Managing Editor/Staff Writer On September 30, 11-year old, Orion Gunderson, passed away after injuries he sustained following an accident involving exercise equipment in his Eagle Mountain home. Orion was an active little boy, and was a member of the Hidden Hollow running club. On October 1st, the day after Orion passed away, the Ranches Academy Running Club was scheduled to host the Hidden Hollow Running Club in their annual cross country race. When the Ranches Academy coaches got word of the tragedy, they immediately started to change plans. Because Orion was a member of the team, coaches felt that a competition would not be appropriate, so they decided to do a 1-mile family fundraiser run/walk and invited Ranches and HH running clubs, their families and the community to come honor Orion and his family. Word of mouth spread quickly, with an estimated 1,000 people, including 339 elementary-aged runners, all showed up, wearing blue, which was Orion's favorite color. Running Club kids wore their team shirts but they all wore a blue ribbon to show that, on that day, they ran as one team for one purpose, and that was for Orion. According to Heather Gunderson, Orion's mother, he was so excit-
ed about the race and had been talking about it for days. Orion's family came out to the event, including Orion's parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles & grandparents. Right before the 1-mile run, elementary school runners released 250 blue balloons. After the race, there was a short presentation for the Gunderson family where Zac, Orion's little brother was given four tickets to the BYU Homecoming football game and a football autographed by the BYU football team. It was also announced that the first cross country race of the season between HH & Ranches Academy would be known as the "Orion Gunderson Memorial Run." Zac was also presented with the first Orion Gunderson Memorial trophy. The run raised $3100 in donations for the Gunderson family.
On Saturday, Oct. 5th, another local fundraiser was held for the Gunderson Family. Orion was a member of the Giants NFL Flag football team. The week before, Orion had scored his first touchdown. When his team and the league found about the tragedy, they, too, wanted to do something to show their love and support to the Gunderson family. The team donated hot chocolate, drinks, chips and over 300 hot dog's to be sold during all the flag football games on Oct. 5th. They, too raised $3100 in donations, including an anonymous $500 donation presented to Zac with the instruction of "go to do something fun with your family." The league had blue ribbons for all 325 football players and their coaches to be worn during the games that day. Before each game there was a moment of silence to honor Orion.T he first play of every game was played one player short (4 on 4 instead of 5 on 5) in honor of the player that was missing. The Giants won their game that day and remain the only undefeated team in the 6th-8th grade division. One of the event organizers, Becky Anderson, said, “It has been amazing to see our wonderful community come together to help support a local family in their time of need.” If you would like to make a donation to the Orion family, go to http://fundly.com/in-memory-oforion-gunderson
WHS highlighted as Fox 13’s ‘Cool School of the Week’ By Emily Fotheringham Staff Writer Fox 13’s Big Buddha recently visited Westlake High School during the station’s morning show to highlight the school as the “Cool school of the week.” During ten segments that were scattered throughout the morning, a wide variety of students and groups were featured, encouraging Westlake representatives and news anchor alike to declare Westlake the “Cool school of the millennium.” Big Buddha emphasized that the school had, “Set the bar really high. It’s much higher than we’ve ever had it before.” Early in the morning Big Buddha made quite the entrance being welcomed by the student body with an entourage of goats and horses, before
being dressed as the Son of Thor, the school’s mascot. Throughout the morning different student groups were given the chance to shine including: The 4A State Champions The Marching Thunder, The Voices of Thunder singing and dancing to Thriller, The ballroom dance team, students in the culinary training program, student athletes, students participating in the Cause of Hope service project, and various clubs. In one of the early segments Big Buddha spoke to a student representing the Future Farmers of America (FFA) who told about the Westlake High School Farm which is supposed to start operating on November 1st of this year. According to the student the farm is being created in order to help raise animals, vegetables, and hay, and to give students who don’t have the room at their own homes the
opportunity to get hands-on farming experience. Another segment featured National Guard members from Camp Williams presenting a plaque to Principal Openshaw, thanking him for the Westlake’s willingness to host the 2013 Governor’s Day when the military base was unable to hold it on sight themselves this year. Some of the fun segments featured a tractor pulling competition between school grades, of which the junior’s won, and a spoof on “What does the fox say?” turned into “What does Fox 13 say?” where a large portion of the student body performed a choreographed dance. This year’s school motto, as reiterated on the show, is “Unleash the Thunder” and Westlake High School certainly did that for Big Buddha and Fox 13.
By Jennifer Klingonsmith Staff Writer
Saratoga Springs residents will be voting on Propositions 3 and 6; both concern the future of high-density development in the city. Proposition 3 is about development rights to build Green Springs, a specific medium-density development near the Talons Cove Golf Course. The passage of Proposition 6 would essentially cap high-density housing at 27 percent of city dwellings. Proposition 3 is the end result of a long, drawn-out battle over 12 acres of property in the Saratoga Springs Development (SSD). The parcel is surrounded by custom homes in a low-density residential area. The land was originally zoned R-3 (low-density residential). In 2000, a developer asked to have the area rezoned to a Planned Unit Development (PUD), which would allow higher density to be concentrated throughout SSD, including a density of six housing units per acre on the Green Springs property (“Plat 17”). The rezone request was approved through a development agreement, and in 2004 through an amended development agreement. In 2007, the city’s zoning map was altered to reflect the change; however, the zoning map was never passed by the city council as required by state law. The developer did not record Plat 17 with Utah County or develop the property at that time. When Robert Haertel of Capital Assets acquired the land, he noted on the city’s zoning maps that the property was zoned R-6, although Utah County records did not show the approved plat and the city council did not pass the zoning map amendment in 2007. He also was told that the amended development agreement would not expire until January 2013. However, the city was not able to locate a signed copy of the amended development agreement (even though the council voted to approve it during a council meeting in early 2005). Because of these discrepancies, Haertel requested an advisory opinion from the Utah Property Rights Ombudsman, who ruled
that Haertel had the vested right to build 77 attached units on Plat 17, despite the discrepancies. Following the advisory opinion, and because the amended development agreement would likely expire before all of Plat 17 could be recorded and developed, Haertel sought permission from the current city council to have the 12 acres designated as R-6 residential to reflect the vested right to build 77 attached units on the property. Many of the surrounding residents opposed the zone change and voiced their opposition to the city council during multiple public hearings. On November 13, 2012, the city council granted Haertel the R-6 zone for the Green Springs Development. The city council stated that the R-6 zoning reflected what had been on the city’s zoning map and what had been previously granted as a property right on the parcel under development agreements. Residents against the zone change then obtained thousands of signatures in an attempt to put a referendum petition on the ballot and let citizens decide whether to override the city council’s decision. Haertel filed suit to stop the referendum and the case worked its way through the legal system all the way to the Utah Supreme Court. The Utah Supreme Court stated that Saratoga Springs citizens could decide the matter by ballot, overturning a previous ruling that the zoning decision was not subject to a referendum. It is unclear, in the event the proposition passes and the rezone is repealed, if Haertel’s vested right to build 77 units will remain in force, as the Utah Supreme Court did not rule on that issue. The Property Rights Ombudsman indicated in a follow-up letter in February 2013 that the rezone decision does not affect the developer’s right to develop 77 attached units on Plat 17. Proposition 6 (authored by the same residents who petitioned for Proposition 3) concerns high-density housing in general within Saratoga See HIGH-DENSITY on page 7
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Eagle Mountain couple to host first annual Unified for Adoption Conference
By Daniel Palmer Staff Writer
Eagle Mountain residents Brenda and Brad Horrocks are hosting an adoption conference this November with United for Adoption (UFA), a non-profit organization working to promote and protect adoption. The conference will include information on adoption, positive parenting, managing relationships, and much more. The conference will be held at the Sorensen Student Building at UVU on November 9, 2013 from 9 am to 4 pm with Keynote Speaker Amy Iverson from KSL’s “The Browser.” Iverson will share her own experience with adoption. The Horrocks family began in
October of 1994 when Brenda and Brad were married. But after many failed treatments to become pregnant, they turned to adoption.“We began to realize being parents was more important to us than being pregnant.” They submitted paperwork in 1998, and 19 months later were able to bring a baby girl into their family. The joy was bittersweet. “We realized there was a young girl who was experiencing pain because of her courageous act and love for her daughter.” Later in 2002, another daughter came into the Horrocks family through adoption; after which they tried fertility treatments one more time and were met with life-threatening complications, closing the book on treatments indefinitely. Both adoptions began as
semi-open, meaning the birth parents meet the adoptive parents before placement, with letters and pictures being exchanged. A few years later, however, they opted into an open relationship with the birth parents. “Words cannot express the deep love and gratitude we feel for these amazing people.” After the Horrocks' experienced a nasty online adoption scam in 2006, a young single-parent friend of theirs allowed them to adopt her 8-month old baby boy. During this placement, the birth mother and family came to their home for a special placement dinner in honor of the birth mother. “It was a miraculous day! We continue to have a relationship with this special friend and her family.” In 2007, the Horrocks' became licensed to be foster parents. “We ended up saying goodbye to seven children. All were incredible and we still love and miss each of them, especially the two babies we had for a longer period of time,” Horrocks recounted. Through adoption and foster care, the Horrocks' have come to a realization that “Just as we dreamed of a family of our own we know there are children with the same dream.” As the couple fostered children, they looked forward to another opportunity to someday adopt again. In 2009, their youngest child
was placed with them at the hospital while he was in the NICU. “Our joy was full. Our entire family rejoiced as we welcomed this tiny boy into our family, making it complete.” The Horrocks' have learned so much through their experiences with adoption. “Had we been able to build our family ‘like everyone else’ we would have missed out on so much learning and joy, and the opportunity to serve in an amazing community
of people.” The Horrocks have served on local and national boards and currently serve as chairs for UFA. Registration for the UFA Conference is available online at 2013ufaconference.eventbrite.com where you may also view the conference agenda. Vendors are also still being accepted. If interested, email unitedforadoption@ gmail.com. Find out more at the UFA Facebook page or unitedforadoption.blogspot.com.
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Thursday, October 17, 2013
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SS City Council Notes By Jennifer Klingonsmith Staff Writer
October 1, 2013 The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm. Those present included Shellie Baertsch, Rebecca Call, Michael McOmber, Jim Miller, Bud Poduska, Mayor Mia Love, and city staff. Public Comment A Harvest Hills resident stated that she disagreed with a suggestion that the city should waive all utility fees for families of activeduty military. While she expressed gratitude for the service and sacrifice made by those in the military, she did not agree with utility costs being subsidized by city residents. As an alternative, she suggested that utility bills give residents the option to donate money into a fund that could be used to help military families struggling to pay utility costs. Awards Lieutenant Colonel Smith from Camp Williams presented the city with a plaque of gratitude for its efforts in hosting the Governor’s Day celebration recently at Westlake High School. He praised staff and the police for efforts in traffic control and other measures. Mayor Mia Love also thanked Councilwoman Shellie Baertsch for helping to plan and coordinate the event. Policy Items Consent Calendar The consent calendar was unanimously approved. Public Hearing: Amendment to the City of Saratoga Springs Transportation Element of the
General Plan. City Manager Mark Christensen reported that this element of the transportation plan concerned one landowner and 182 acres. The land sits just north of the Saratoga Springs Development, between the Jordan River and Redwood Road. The land was part of the District Area Plan. Christensen further explained that the applicant wanted to minimize pass-through traffic in the area. He wanted to remove planned system roads and replace them with narrower two-lane neighborhood roads. Doing this would also allow driveways to exist on all streets within the development. Councilman Jim Miller stated that he was hesitant to approve transportation plans without seeing a detailed concept plan for the plat. The applicant clarified that there would be six “place types” in the development (traditional neighborhood, town neighborhood, regional retail, etc.). He stated that he could put over 5,800 housing units on the property because of the granted planned community zone; but he didn’t think that was the responsible thing to do. He suggested that the way to ensure lower densities would be to narrow the roads. Road right-of-ways would be reduced from 77 feet to 57 feet. Councilwoman Rebecca Call thought the transportation plan would work but stated that she would still like to see a more detailed plan from the applicant. Councilwoman Shellie Baertsch reasoned that if the road
widths decreased, density could essentially increase with more buildable space. The city council would be negligent if it did not see a plan before approving transportation changes, Baertsch warned. We need to do our due diligence as legislators, she concluded. The applicant stressed that he was trying to work ahead of the application process, so as not to slow it down. Miller stated that if the transportation plan was amended without knowing details of the development that the city council would have to come back later and amend the plan again when the details were known. He would rather get it right the first time. The transportation plan amendment was then approved with direction to both city staff and the applicant that the plan may undergo further changes to make sure that streets in the area would meet the needs of the city. Baertsch voted against the ordinance. Appointments of an Official Land Development Code Update Subcommittee. All appointees were approved except Kristin Hood of the city’s planning commission. She was not approved because her term expired in December. Reports Call reported that the Utah Lake Commission had been working on provisions concerning private and community docks on Utah Lake. Miller asked that the police chief investigate claims made in a resident’s email that a code
enforcement officer had told her that the city did not enforce its weed ordinance on rental properties because it was too difficult to track down property owners. Miller stated that this should not be the case. Mayor Love asked the city council to make sure that a voting member was always present at
MAG meetings (Mountainland Association of Governments). Councilman Michael McOmber asked Public Works to look into and replace as necessary cracked street signs. He asked that staff check to see if they are under warranty. The meeting then entered into closed session.
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Thursday, October 17, 2013
Thursday, October 17, 2013
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Springs. The proposition seeks to amend the city’s general plan to cap certain housing types. It would require that 73 percent of all housing types be single-family, detached homes. All other housing, including apartments, three-story condominiums, and townhome projects, could not exceed 27 percent. Proponents state that these caps will bring balance to residential development and preserve the “desirable rural character” of the city in the long term. According to the authors, this would not affect existing developments or parties who have been previously granted high-density development rights. However, the proposition’s language does not specifically state this. Utah law states that plain language takes precedence over intent, and since the intent is not made clear in the proposition, the plain language could be given priority.
From the city’s standpoint, this lack in clarity could open the door to potential litigation by developers and also put the city council in the uncomfortable position of having to choose between honoring binding agreements with developers and following the law being proposed. In an argument against Proposition 6, the city council also stated that its legislative discretion would be limited and that such a law could slow growth in general by discouraging commercial development (often, restaurant chains and big box stores require certain numbers of “rooftops” within a city before expansion is considered). Arguments for and against both propositions can be found in the voter information pamphlet. A link has been posted to the city’s website: saratogaspringscity.com. Election Day is November 5. Early voting takes place between October 22 and November 1 at the city offices between 8 am and noon.
whatdoesitsay?
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HIGH-DENSITY
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10/03/13 ANSWER: A cut above the rest
Congratulations to Bret Thomas of Saratoga Springs for emailing the first correct answer to last issue’s puzzle! He won 1 free medium pizza from Tenney’s Pizza in Saratoga Springs. The Crossroads Journal wants you to tell us “what does it say?” The first person to email the correct answer to this week’s puzzle NO SOONER THAN OCTOBER 18TH will win 1 free medium pizza from Tenney’s Pizza in Saratoga Springs. Email your guess to thecrossroads@digis.net along with your name, address and phone number. Good Luck!
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