RIVERTON — Will city slickers be moving to rural Riverton?
Maybe, if three outgoing Riverton City Council members get enough votes to pass a proposed rezone that includes high-density housing and commercial use in the heart of the city.
Some residents are angry about what developer Hamilton Land plans to do with some 325 acres recently acquired in a land swap with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"I am very frustrated," said Jeneen Carpenter, who, along with other residents, opposes the rezone that would put condominiums or apartments and retail businesses near their homes. "The higher the density you have, the more problems it brings."
Carpenter is concerned nearby high-density housing could bring increased crime and negatively impact property values. She said residents have tried unsuccessfully to contact the LDS Church about the issue.
Riverton city planner Jason Lethbridge said the property was officially transferred to Hamilton Land last week in exchange for land near Riverton's border with Herriman. Lethbridge said because Hamilton Land controls the property, the church has no say in what happens now. It is now up to the city's Planning and Zoning Committee and, ultimately, the City Council.
Two hearings have been scheduled to take public comments on the proposed rezone — tonight and Dec. 23, when the council is expected to vote on the issue. Both meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Riverton Civic Center, 12830 S. Redwood Road.
Lethbridge said Hamilton has petitioned to have two sites rezoned. One 247-acre area at 13400 South, between 2700 West and the Bangerter Highway, is the proposed site for homes and businesses. Hamilton is asking to use 105 acres for commercial purposes, 112 acres for single-family homes on small lots and 27 acres for multi-family housing in the form of apartments or condominiums.
On a second site, 78 acres at 12200 South and 2700 West, the developer wants zoning for single-family homes on one-third to quarter-acre lots. The site would include space for a city park.
Each of the two sites would include an area for a future elementary school.
Residents and at least one city councilman are accusing three lame-duck council members of trying to railroad the rezone through before newly elected council members take over in January.
Some residents have accused certain council members of favoring high-density housing in a city that prides itself on being fairly rural.
"I think the residents feel cheated in that regard," said Councilman Bill Applegarth, who opposes the Hamilton development.
Applegarth said he does not take issue with the church's land swap but feels the city needs to be cautious about putting commercial development so close to existing homes.
But outgoing Councilman Mark Easton said he resents the accusation that he and other outgoing council members are trying to push the development through against the community's will.
"This has been in the works for one and a half years," Easton said. "The notion that this is being railroaded is foolishness."
Easton argued the development is in line with Riverton's general plan to cultivate more businesses in the heart of the city for sales tax revenue.
"That area is the commercial lifeblood for Riverton City," Easton said.
The high-density housing, Easton said, will act as a buffer between the commercial area and existing homes. The only other option to approving the development, he said, is to raise property taxes to fund city services.
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