By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Nephi City Council members voted to impose a six-month
moratorium on new residential subdivision applications and
approvals.
Commercial subdivisions or shopping centers are still
welcome and will not be affected by the moratorium.
"This will not have an affect on those who have already
been approved for residential subdivision construction,"
said Chad Brough, mayor. "Basically, those who are already
in the pipeline will not be affected."
"I think this is a good time to stop and look at the
ordinances," said Jim Wilkey, council member. "We will have
the whole winter to work out the ordinances."
The vote was taken at the request of Brough who, Sept.
23, wrote a letter to Randy McKnight, city administrator,
directing he and Glenn Greenhalgh, city zoning
administrator, to develop and propose to the city council
and planning commission changes to the Nephi City
Subdivision Ordinance and other development ordinances.
"Increasing interest is being shown in Nephi as a site
for residential housing projects," said Brough. "There is
potential for our already steady growth to accelerate and we
need ordinances that will address the rapid growth of Nephi
City and the need to preserve open space, sensitive lands
and to provide ways to finance needed infrastructure and
utility improvements."
Richard Paxman, council member, said it was his
philosophy that residential subdivision developers pay their
own way. "I do not think current residents should be asked
to foot the bill by paying for the needed infrastructure to
benefit the new subdivisions."
"I think the school district will appreciate the
respite," said Darin Peterson, council member. He said the
increasing population had put a great deal of stress on the
schools.
"In the past, I have always taken comfort in our
ordinances and the protection they provided but our
ordinances are weak in the issues of open spaces," said
Brough.
Brough said he did not think the city's current
ordinances adequately addressed incentives to preserve open
space and sensitive lands. "These ordinances do not provide
for the financing of parks, open space, utilities, and other
infrastructure to meet the needs of a rapidly growing
city."
"There is pressure to accommodate significant residential
growth in the community," said Brough. "These changes need
to be addressed and implemented in order to preserve the
health and safety of the current and future residents of
Nephi."
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