By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Nephi City Council did not give businessmen who want
to build a movie theater on city-owned park property a
clear-cut answer to the question of whether the council
would consider selling or exchanging property.
The Pink School Park, named after the historic school
built on the site and which was razed some years ago, is
only owned, in part, by the city.
Some of the property, located on the two-block site,
belongs to the county and some to the school district. There
is also a private residence on a lot located to the side of
the proposed theater.
The cooperation of all groups would be needed to allow
the construction of a theater in the area the developers
would like. Especially if the design the developers are
proposing is followed because a roadway would need to come
in from the back.
"You should probably meet with the county commission,"
said Darin Peterson, council member, "in addition to the
planning commission."
Kelly Andersen, Mike Cowan, and Tyler Cowan and Kelly
Andersen's brother, Bob Andersen (not present) asked city
council members if they had made a decision or had given
consideration to the question the group had posed at last
council meeting: would the city allow a proposed private
enterprise to be constructed on the property next to the
fire station?
"You still need to meet with the planning commission,"
said Chad Brough, mayor. "We could meet with you at a future
work meeting, but the planning commission will need to have
input before the council makes a decision."
At present, the commercial district, along Main
Street, is only a half a block deep, although other areas
located in the same half-block district along the street
have been changed to accommodate other businesses. A zone
change calls for a public hearing and a state-statute
prescribed notice period.
"It seemed like, when I was on the council, we were
interested in recreation that would give the kids something
to do and would keep them off the streets," said
Andersen.
He said several people had come to him and expressed
approval for the construction of the theater and the choice
of site. Students in one of his children's classes had also
indicated that they were in favor of a movie theater being
built.
"We want to know if the council would even consider
selling or exchanging property," said Cowan. "Are you even
interested?"
Andersen said the venture was a gamble, financially,
and the group would appreciate some consideration from the
council.
Some considerations might be considered, said Brough.
For example, some assistance might be given with utility
system construction, but the council needed to be certain
that all businesses were treated to the same start-up
considerations.
Brough said the value of the property would also need
to be established. "A piece of property across the street on
the corner has been rumored to be worth $100,000 or so."
The council needs to consider the proposal. He said
the realized the developers were on a time-constraint, but
the council and planning commission needed time.
"Would you be more interested in exchanging property
than in selling it?" asked Cowan.
Another site has been considered, said Andersen.
However, it would not be as centrally located and would be
further out on the north of the city. It would not be as
easy for young people to get to.
"We have been most interested in the Pink School
property," said Andersen. "The central location is
ideal."
In his protest, Philip Baker, city parks and
cemeteries superintendent, said the city has four prior city
commitments for the Pink School Park which the council
should take into consideration before making a decision.
Those were as a city park, to the Ute Stampede Craft
Show, to the Ute Stampede Car Show, and to the U.S. Forest
Service.
"Our youth are involved in many physical programs that
the Pink School Park will facilitate," he said.
Tyler Cowan said, in his opinion, the horseshoe pits
could not even be considered on the same plane as a theater.
"Are they used very much?" he asked.
They are used by some local enthusiasts and for
tournaments a few times during the year. And while those
tournaments do draw people to the community, they were not
used on the same level as a soccer field or baseball
diamond, said Baker.
The proposed developers would not be as pleased with
the property if the theater would be turned on the block to
face other than the south. In addition, they would like to
have some way for vehicles to get in and out of the parking
lot which might require some of the property other than that
belonging to the city.
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