PAYSON — A planned extension of 800 South through the former Payson Downs horse-racing site has been abandoned by the City Council following a recommendation by the city's Planning Commission.
The council's about-face on the road extension comes too late to save the historic race track, which was razed in April as part of what one council member said was a groundbreaking for the road extension.
"I was surprised," said Glade Robbins, city development director, following the council vote on Wednesday.
The Planning Commission recommendation against the road extension was a response to what was described as "stiff opposition by city residents."
While the road extension appears to be dead, turning the area into a parking lot isn't.
"That's one of the options," Councilwoman Colleen Jacobson said.
Jacobson also said claims that the council said the April groundbreaking was for the road extension was a mis-statement by Councilwoman Jan Tanner. Tanner was not available for comment.
Jacobson said the groundbreaking was actually the first step in getting recreation complex construction moving. She said an alluded-to contract for the road construction "is still hanging."
Current plans now call for a roundabout at 800 South and Main and a pedestrian underpass east of the roundabout, Jacobson said. The city is also looking to upgrade 700 South to handle the increased traffic originally intended for the 800 South extension.
Jacobson said the council plans further discussions on the recreation center this week at an as yet unscheduled meeting.
A sharply divided council voted in April to proceed with the road following a series of contentious public hearings at which one group of residents petitioned the council to put the issue on the November ballot while others urged the council to step back and reassess the city's plan for a new recreation complex that includes an outdoor swimming pool and several quad-style ball fields for the area. A building for indoor sports has also been mentioned.
Former mayor Gordon Taylor even offered to give the city 37.5 acres he said was worth $1.04 million (a city valuation placed it nearer $500,000) if the city would promise to save and renovate the track and kill the road extension. The land is about three miles outside the city limits which would have required selling the parcel and using the money to find a new site for the recreation complex.
The council rejected the offer saying there were "too many strings" attached and that there was not sufficient time to rework the recreation complex plan.
Adding to the ongoing process is a Nebo School District suggestion to move the pool complex to a site between Payson Junior High School and Payson High, an area south of the planned ball fields, Robbins said. While the suggestion is likely to be part of the discussion at the upcoming meeting alluded to by Jacobson, she added that "it looks like that isn't going to work out."
The meeting is also expected to look at a proposal to move a general obligation bond vote that would fund a possible indoor sports building from the November ballot to the following spring. Some council members believe the bond would have a better shot at passage if it is the sole focus of the election.
Jacobson said moving the vote would also give the council additional time to study the issue and come up with a firm dollar amount.
Time, it appears, is no longer an issue.
E-MAIL: rodger@desnews.com