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  • Commercial in residential discussed in Mona

 

By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent


Should a commercial property be allowed to exist in a residential area?
Paula Newton, Mona resident, wondered if a building constructed in Mona by Calvin Wright, owner of Calvin Wright Masonry, Nephi, was meeting the zoning ordinance requirements for a residential area in Mona.
"We thought he was allowed (by the city) to build a barn for storage for personal use, not commercial use," said Newton.
It is located not in a commercial area but a residential one, she said.
"It is a nice-looking building but the yard is trash," said Newton.
The weeds have not been sprayed and it is obvious that Wright is using the building as part of his masonry business because of the type of material that is stored outside the building.
"The building was just to be a garage," said Cody Adams, council member. "I asked Jeff Boyd, city building inspector, about it."
One other problem is that the roof of the building is so close to the neighboring property that it appears not to have the proper clearance to the side of the building.
"We do have certain setbacks which should be observed," said Gordon Anderson, council member.
He suggested that the council pull the original building license and find out what specifics were agreed to before the council takes a strong stand.
The building permit may not give the specifics the council might hope to find there, said Michelle Dalton, city secretary.
"That building permit may date back to the time when a person seeking to build a garage just came into the office and obtained a permit. They did not have to attend a meeting back then the way they are required to do now."
Mike Stringer, council member, said it was not an allowed use to have an individual using any property in the residential area of the community for a commercial use unless the property was first designated for that use.
On September 10, said Mayor Bill Mills, the city's nuisance ordinance becomes effective. That ordinance will give the city a strong tool to work with in cases where nuisances need to be abated.