After years of struggle for a legally recognized community to call their own, Kearns residents can sit back and relax for awhile.
On Tuesday, the Salt Lake County Council unanimously signed off on the creation of the Kearns Township, a legal designation that will become effective June 1.
Although township status is not on par with city incorporation, it does give local residents more control over zoning and planning issues.
A seven-member township planning commission will be appointed by Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman with the advice and consent of the council to exercise more review over land use issues. With as many people who turned out March 19 pushing support of the township creation, county officials don't think they'll have trouble soliciting the applications that are due April 16.
An estimated 200 people showed up at that public hearing to urge the County Council's action, and at a second public hearing Tuesday night, key community leaders thanked the county for its commitment to Kearns.
"Kearns people are committed to staying a Kearns community," County Councilman Michael Jensen said. "They don't want to be part of anyone else."
Township boundaries for Kearns are roughly 4700 South to 6200 South and 4000 West over to 5600 West. There is a portion of the township on the extreme southwestern end that jogs over to 6400 West.
The designation of township status, while it doesn't legally prohibit annexations, does make it harder for neighboring cities to cherry pick commercial-rich areas.
In the recent legislative session, county leaders successfully pushed a bill that mandates if a city wants an area that is already part of township, it must take the entire township absent a majority vote of the residents.
That bill is reflective of the protective tone Workman and the new County Council has adopted since taking office in January 2001 regarding unincorporated Salt Lake County.
Jensen and other county councilman have repeatedly said the interests of the unincorporated area can't be ignored as annexations and incorporations come to county leaders for approval.
Late last year, the council created the Magna Township as a way to give assurances to residents in the western end of the county official recognition of their community's autonomy.
E-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com