A $2.6 million U.S. District Court suit accuses Alpine, Utah County, officials of dragging their feet in approving a new subdivision and, thereby, causing expensive delays.
The suit was filed by Gerald P. Andersen, a resident of Tempe, Ariz., who also lists an Orem address. Andersen, attempting to develop the "Buena Vista" subdivi-sion and nearby land, is acting as his own lawyer.The suit lists a history of problems with getting approval for the development.
"The city of Alpine informed Mr. Andersen . . . that a drainage basin had to be established through his property and that a debris basin had to be built on his property, and further that there was a boundary dispute and that Hog Hollow Road had to be realigned and paved," the action says.
Andersen agreed with the requests, and they caused delays, it adds.
The suit says that twice Andersen traveled 1,800 miles for city council meetings "to find his name had been arbitrarily removed from the (meeting) agenda." It says the city "obstructed and made it impossible to be heard" by refusing to put the project on the agenda.
"Members of the City Council and Planning Commission have stated publicly in session, and privately to Mr. Andersen, that they are going to do everything possible to kill the Buena Vista project," the suit says. "No reasons are stated."
Andersen lost time and spent money because of the delays, the suit adds. "The actions of the defendants in frustrating development throughout the greater part the calendar year of 1992 have resulted in the loss of a time-sensitive business opportunity and the loss of a building season."
Alpine Mayor Don Christiansen, who is named in the suit along with City Council members, was not available for comment Thursday.