We moved to South Willard because we wanted to live somewhere without sidewalks because that seemed to define the kind of area we wanted to raise our children in. We couldn't afford a farm but we loved the farming atmosphere of Willard, the rural, quiet life. I don't want to see growth come and I'm saddened by the idea of traffic and congestion and commercial development. I applied to be a part of the Citizens Committee so that my voice could be heard in keeping the rural goodness of this area. But one thing I've learned is that my not wanting it to happen will not stop it. We can protest, stomp our feet and show up en mass to meetings but if the developer works within the zoning laws we cannot stop it.
South Willard today, 2013, has a little over 400 homes. That number becomes important in this discussion.
The property owners south of the LDS stake center are proposing a 240 home development. That would be a more than 50% increase in total number of homes and residents. That's the easy number.
Across the street where the elk farm currently is, the owners are planning to develop 1600 homes. 4 times the number currently in South Willard. In addition to the 1600 homes, that development would include a commercial area along the highway and they are hoping with 1600 homes they will be able to lure a large box store to the area to anchor the commercial development. Is this coming together? Willard as we know it is about to change, maybe not tomorrow or next week but in the next decade it could look significantly different. The plans will probably be proposed in the next 6 months. We cannot stop this growth coming but hopefully we can have a say in how it happens and how it looks and whether it includes community parks or trails.
As I stated in the zoning post, the county is not in the zoning business. They are not in the business of running cities. Because these plans meet the legal requirements they will be approved, they must be approved. If South Willard were a municipality there would be some stricter zoning requirements, there could be some give and take with the developer on density issues, parks and trails. But because the county isn't in the business of zoning or running cities these things will be absent without annexation.
I believe South Willard residents should have a say in the development of South Willard, but that can't happen without annexation or incorporation.
i appreciate your explanation above. And we agree on probably most of what you have stated. But can you explain why the big push for annexation and not incorporation? I know there have been set backs towards that end, but have we gone so far that annexation is the only real option, to have our voices heard, or is it just the simplest?
ReplyDeleteI have explained the annexation vs incorporation in another comment (see comment under "Funding of the Special Service District"). The quick answer is that it looks to be the cheapest option, the fastest, possibly the simplest, though as you have seen, simple is relative, and the most community uniting option. Cost plays heavily in any county/state decision on incorporation and South Willard could be years from having a large enough tax base to allow that.
ReplyDeleteTime is a factor because much of the feel of South Willlard will be decided by the 800 plus acre development where the elk ranch is now. There is a large commercial area planned, hopefully trails and parks, schools, churches, luxury homes. The county is not in the municipality business and will approve any plan that meets the law, rather than one that meets the aesthetics of the community and provides parks or trails. Local government will provide so much more opportunity to have a say in development and to influence how South Willard develops. To wait for a tax base will mean letting South Willard develop as a mish mash of each developers idea for South Willard rather than the citizens idea and plan.