A measure that would limit Lehi's residential growth to 3 percent annually for the next five years has sparked emotional debate.
The initiative petition was submitted with approximately 1,000 signatures several months ago by a group calling itself Citizens for Moderate Growth in Lehi. Sponsors of the measure believe the city's growth is out of control and is straining Lehi's water, sewer and traffic services while diminishing quality of life."It is the intent of the people of the community to achieve a steady rate of residential growth each year, rather than a fluctuating, overly rapid rate," sponsors wrote in the measure.
However, the initiative has met opposition from residents, developers and elected city officials. A group called the Committee for Sensible Growth in Lehi has published arguments and posted signs urging voters to defeat the initiative at Tuesday's polling places.
Several members of the City Council also spoke against the measure at Tuesday's council meeting. They said they wanted to correct inaccuracies in initiative sponsors' arguments.
"If we're wise and want to do what's right in this community, we need to defeat that initiative," said Councilman Dee Ray Russon. "I believe it's wrong to try to legislate how this community should grow."
Councilman Rod Olsen said approximately 70 percent of the growth taking place in Lehi is a result of residents' own children trying to build new homes. Therefore, any initiative that limits growth will effectively force the town's children to move elsewhere, he said.
The proposal would cap the number of new building permits in Lehi at 147 for 1998. The limit would increase slightly each year until 2001. The initiative also calls for the city to re-do its master plan and set up a board to decide which projects get the limited building permits.
Councilwoman Frances Comer said the measure's provisions are unnecessary because Lehi has already taken steps to deal with growth effectively. Also, she said, passing the initiative could result in lawsuits against Lehi and would simply encourage neighboring cities to annex land near Lehi.
"If we don't take care of the growth that's coming, somebody else is going to," she said. "We're still going to have the impact without the revenues."
Comer objected to published allegations by the initiative's sponsors that she tried to intimidate residents who signed the petition into taking their names off. When the petition was turned into the city, she called two or three residents to find out what initiative sponsors had promised them would happen if the measure passed, she said.
"I was simply checking out the report I had," she said. "I did not tell anyone to take their names off the petition."
*****
Additional Information
Pros, cons of limiting Lehi growth to 3%:
Proposal that would cap Lehi's residential growth at 3 percent annually.
Pro: Sponsors say the initiative will give Lehi a chance to catch up services to the demand for new homes. They believe the measure will guarantee that Lehi residents can effectively plan their future.
Con: Opponents say the measure will not achieve the desired result, because neighboring cities will annex land instead, and Lehi will still feel the effects. They believe the city already has the mechanisms in place to deal with growth.