Utah County commissioners on Monday approved a property-zoning change that would allow commercial development in the South Fork area of Provo Canyon - a change that would give the area the same status as Sundance Resort.
But Blake Gammell, owner of the property, said he wanted the zoning change only in order to give each of his five children 20 acres to build cabins -a commitment that seemed to ease the concerns of residents."If all he wants to do is have five 20-acre lots, I have no heartburn," said Tom Giles, one property owner. "But if it's something like Sundance, I really don't want that type of thing in Provo Canyon."
Commissioners approved the change for a portion of land in the South Fork area will from a Critical Environment-1 to a Critical Environment-2. The change would allow Gammell to build a home on 20 acres instead of 40 acres.
South Fork residents and property owners voiced concern about the zone change during the hearing, fearing the area would turn into a commercial development with stores, condominiums and restaurants - all allowed in the CE-2 zone.
Residents said, however, that they had no problem with the change if development could be controlled.
C.J. Harmon, another resident, said he had no objections to Gammell's proposal, but opening the land to a subdivision is a bad situation because of the traffic problems it would create. He said such a change would require the county to build a better road and provide better police protection in the area.
Harold Carter, a resident in Vivian Park, said the county should be concerned about the watershed in making the zone change. But Planning Commission director Jeff Mendenhall said any land with a 30 percent slope or higher is restricted to building.
Any development in the area must also go before the planning commission and county commission for approval before building permits are issued.
"I think the intent here is to protect the land," Commissioner Brent Morris said. "There seems to be a check and balance to stop what you fear from happening."
In a letter to the commission, Provo City Water Resources Director Merril Bingham said the approval of the zone change is shortsighted and would damage the watershed area.
"For many decades Provo City has relied on developed spring areas in South Fork as a significant part of the water supply to our population," he said. "Some of these spring areas are close to and down gradient from the Gammell property.
"The value of our South Fork spring water is priceless, and we feel a keen responsibility to protect the quality of that water. To allow zone changes and then development without adequate sanitary facilities would be irresponsible.
But Commission Chairman Malcolm Beck questioned why Provo City officials were concerned about the higher levels of South Fork and not the lower levels where they plan to develop a recreational area.
Gammell said, "My intent is not to do these things people are afraid of. I'm a little bit hurt that my neighbors up there come down and assume I'm going to do all these things. I'm hurt also because they don't want me to put anything on 20 acres, but many of them are on smaller acres."