PUBLIC HEARING • A public
hearing was held on new subdivison that will be
built in Mona and a large crown attended.
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
A subdivider did win one argument and will not be
required to develop a section of roadway on Plat
Lane.
A public hearing that attracted several nearby
property owners and garnered several comments from the
public was held before a decision was made by the council
to allow the subdivision with some strings.
"Ludlow Engineering and myself have the opinion that
we have met all the requirements for a subdivision," said
Lyn Bonner, developer.
Excluding the Plat Lane road, there were other issues
which concerned the council. Therefore, Mona City Council
gave final approval to the subdivision plat for Bonner
with conditions.
Those conditions must be met in order for Bonner to
move forward on the High Meadows subdivision. He must
either cut back by eliminating the one section, thus
gaining approval for a newly designated Plat A or must
obtain permission to build a road.
Howard Newton's step-father died, said Bonner, and
Newton's mother, Alice Roundy, would be required to allow
construction of a road which would pass her property. She
is not willing, at this time, to do so.
"I think it would be OK, because we have access three
other ways," said Bonner. "This is not an issue of
essential service nor public safety."
Bonner said that Newton told him that the sons would
like Bonner to finish the road but did not want to
pressure their mother for permission during her time of
grief. They said they would have to do that portion of
the road when their property was developed.
However, Mayor Bryce Lynn did not agree.
"If we give you permission, then the next person would
be in and would say the road should have been done when
High Meadows was developed," said Lynn.
Bret Ludlow, of Ludlow Engineering, said Bonner could
enter into a subdivision agreement that would assure the
road would be developed.
The council does not think that such agreements have
much weight, said Lynn. That is not an option, as far as
receiving approval for the venture.
"It was discussed before (in the preliminary stage)
and that is how it has to be done. We've dropped the ball
on too many issues," said Lynn. "The time to do it right
is now."
Mayor Lynn thought the property for the road had
already been dedicated but, said Ludlow, that was not the
case. Sixty-feet had been dedicated but 33-feet had not
been.
It would not do to take the full 60-foot road from the
Bonner development because the road would then have a jog
in it and the council agreed they do not want that to
happen.
"Go re-approach Newtons and see if you cannot obtain
permission to do the road on that property," said Quinton
Kay, council member.
One other option remained, if the required road
footage could not be obtained, Bonner could re-number the
plat phases. Plat A would then be away from the road. It
would be surrounded by its own roads, which are built on
the interior of the planned subdivision, and could be
completed while the roadway with the Newton family is
worked out.
If Plat A were reconfigured, said Ludlow, it would
allow the development of 18 lots rather than the 30
planned.
The roads issues had made the development of the
property fairly difficult, said Bonner.
He was told that he needed to build 100 North across
Wall's Cave and Carla Newton's property. They did not
want to sell but he still needed to purchase the entire
property. That meant that several lots were lost and he,
thereby, lost $400,000 in revenue.
He is also be required to put in a full street along
550 East. Basically, a full street is being built around
the subdivision for 30 lots. If he were required to
finish Plat Lane it would cost an additional $35,000.
"I do not think it is fair for me to have to complete
Plat Lane in front of Deerfield Subdivision or Marla
Jackson's subdivision," said Bonner. "I know there are
different opinions on that."
Nevertheless, he said, he thought that Jackson should
have been required to put in the road when her
development was done and, just because the city dropped
the ball at that time, he did not think he should be
required to pay for that mistake.
"I agree that you should not have to do Plat Lane but
you should have to do the radiuses," said Lynn.
Ludlow showed the council on the plat map that the
radiuses had been planned and were drawn.
Property owner Elisa Nielsen told the council that she
had concerns about not developing Plat Lane.
"In order for two cars to pass, they have to go the
edge of the road," she said.
It also represented a dangerous walkway for children
and if the subdivision had two cars per household, the
national norm, then the traffic would be even worse and
there would be even more of a bottleneck and an even
greater traffic hazard.
"This summer," said Lynn, "we may just have to take
the money from our road fund and do the road."
Larry Ingram, city street superintendent, said Plat
Lane was a county road and the county had been
responsible for snow removal.
The road was not a pass-the-buck situation, said Harry
Newell, city council member. If the city oiled the road
at the place in question the county would, more than
likely, dedicate the street to the city.
A mylar will be prepared for the subdivision and will
then be signed by the mayor and council. It may be for
only 18 lots or it may be, if the road can be acquired,
for the full 30.
