APARTMENTS? • Developers
want to develop the old Starlight motel on South
Main Street into apartments. They approached the
Nephi City Council last week to solicit support for
their project.
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The Starlight motel would make a wonderful
apartment building.
That is the opinion of Colleen and Wendell Lunt and
Tom Fairbanks who hope to develop the property.
The building has been vacant for nine years and is
a community hazard as it now stands, said Fairbanks,
Enterprise Support Centers, Logan, and presents an
unsightly view.
"This isn't just about fixing a building but is
also about a community collaboration," said
Fairbanks.
Mark Jones, mayor, said he had a question about
what was expected from the council in the term "community
collaboration."
"We do not want economic or financial assistance,"
said Fairbanks. "We just want it recognized that there
will be some obstacles and challenges because it is an
existing building."
"Help us to do what is feasible not what is
ridiculous," said Fairbanks.
The proposed development features, said Fairbanks,
a sensible resolution to blight; 11 residential units
(formerly 26); a private pool with secured access;
courtyard type privacy;18 parking stalls (1.6/1 Ratio);
residential landscaping; Hardiplank siding; rockery
support columns; and vinyl insulated windows.
Building A would have a studio unit; two
two-bedroom units; a one bedroom unit; two three-bedroom
units and a one-bedroom disability capable unit.
It will also include a private laundry facility and
a public laundry facility.
Building B will have three two-bedroom units and
Building C will have a one-bedroom unit.
It is planned to upgrade the electrical and
plumbing and to bring the building to current codes (as
feasibly possible).
None of the project is for low-income housing.
"I design homes all over," said Lunt. "As a
designer, I thought: 'What can I do?'"
There will be exposed beams, stone work and the
siding to make the building an attractive addition to the
community.
The Hardiplank siding is cement based siding, he
said.
"As a community advocate," said Fairbanks, "I
wanted to talk about Nephi. You are the 'heart of it
all.'"
Lunt, he said, at one time was a 'young man on a
tractor' and is now nationally recognized for home
design.
Colleen Lunt, grew up in Nephi, the daughter of
Ramon and Lanna Warren, who ran the church farm.
Fairbanks quoted Sadie Greenhalgh, who was a native
of Nephi and a recognized historian: "Perhaps some people
think that Nephi, today, bears little resemblance to the
prosperous 'Little Chicago' they have heard about at the
turn of the century.
"However, there are three things that often remain
the same: First; is the love the people carry in their
heart for the place where they were born. Second; is the
natural beauty of the surrounding area they will always
remember, and third; efficient leadership to guide the
community with wisdom and dedication."
When the project is completed, said Fairbanks, it
will be a story which can be used to show how such
community improvement projects can be completed for the
benefit of communities and those who live there.
"My pay-off is the story," said Fairbanks.
Jones told the developers that the community did
have building codes and all those who worked with codes
in the city were expected to live by those codes.
Lunt said that he worked with codes everyday and
was not expecting special treatment nor was he expecting
to bend those codes. He was not asking for modifications
but was asking that decision's made were decision's stuck
with so that they did not change from day to day.
One city they worked with, said Fairbanks, would do
just that&emdash;change. That delayed the process and
made it difficult to complete a project.
An engineer will look at the building and will give
an opinion about the suggested changes in the structure
to accommodate code and what needs to be done to
strengthen the building.
"We have a development review committee," said
Randy McKnight, city administrator. "They will need to
review the proposal."
In addition, he said, Verl Wilkey, the building
inspector, Craig Pew, building official, and Glenn
Greenhalgh, chairman of the planning commission, and the
planning commission would all need to do the work
assigned to them by the council prior to any approval
being granted for any project.
"This is just an overview before we begin with the
plans for bringing the project to completion," said
Fairbanks.
He said the three developers wanted to meet with
some of the key-players before the work of gaining
approval for the project began just to see if any of
those persons foresaw any deal-killers.
Council members said they could approve the project
as presented if all the details were met and the building
met the necessary codes.
Jim Wilkey, council member, said it was a good idea
and he liked the concept.
"It is quite an eye-sore as it is," said Kent Park,
council member.
Fairbanks said they hoped this was the first
project of many in the community and that they were
looking for an unofficial preliminary approval so that
they would know the thoughts of the council toward such a
project.
Council members said, if the project worked out,
they would like to see the developers take on another
community eye-sore, the old "rest-home" across the street
from city hall.
"We have talked about a recreation center," said
Fairbanks. "We will bring our expertise and talents to the
Starlight project. You need to bring your leadership."
