SmartGrowth Ogden Meeting--Public Comment Notes

By Dian Woodhouse

Speakers:

Deb Badger: Made mention of the fact that the development and the gondola plans keep changing on us.

Polly Waller: Would hate to lose the hills.

Tom Christian(?): Parents were from Switzerland and loved the Ogden mountains. He knew the Malan family, who deeded the city Mount Ogden park---thinks the city paid approximately $140,000 for it. This previous owner definitely did not want houses in that area. Remarked that the meeting had drawn a good crowd.

Grant Maw: “I oppose the gondola and anything related to it.” (Applause.) Stated that Godfrey and Safsten” are not representing the city” and that they “don’t care about our approval.” People were voted out last time and more can be voted out next time. Do we all want large towers 200 yards apart up there?

Sandra Davies: Attended a board meeting where a presentation of the proposed development was made. The nature of the development is “cluster housing,” and if we wish to see an example of this, there is one out by Kobe (formerly Dai Enko Tei.) These houses being build are huge luxury homes about 10 feet apart. This is called a “footprint,” meaning that the house sits on the land with no land around it. The
marketing for the Peterson project is to “wealthy, elite people for second homes.” She has seen similar housing to this in Okinawa, and stated that “we do not want to be New York or LA.”

Robert Cato: Has no water pressure where he lives, and has watched the water from Mount Ogden park cascade over the curb because the ground is saturated. Asked, “Why are we in such a hurry to make Ogden into California?” Mentioned the recent landslide in South Weber where a home was destroyed and a child injured. Is disturbed by the “lack of openness” concerning this project. Has acquired a DVD some people in Jackson Hole(?) made when developers came in and took over an area, and has possible plans to show this to the public in the future.

Dan Schroeder: Member of SmartGrowth and President of the Sierra Club. His question: If there really is a public process in place for decisions such as this land sale, why has the mayor appeared on a promotional DVD stating that the project is a go? Is it really a done deal?

Greg (?): Has seen the proposal. If these homes are built on our open space, access will be lost not only to that space but to the entire area. Referring to those who will buy the homes, he said, “We will be strangers to those people.” Questioned the belief that Mount Ogden Golf Course is losing money. Stated that there is no reason to sell this land. (Huge applause.)

Jack Crosland: Stated that at one time, Mayor Godfrey has said that he wished Ogden to be “The Boulder of Utah.” Went on to talk about Boulder, which “has maintained its unique beauty by open spaces.” Boulder actually passed a raise in sales tax for the preservation and acquisition of open space, and the vote for this was 57% in favor. He ended with an offer that his family trust would donate sufficient funds
to Weber County Pathways, to be used for the purpose of sending the entire Ogden City Council to Boulder, housing them, and taking them around so that they could see how beautiful a city could be when following Boulder’s example.

Sivananda(?) Khalsa: Stated that in his opinion, this was not a good use of the word “vision,” which should connote comforting, connected, spiritual experiences instead of this development. Question was: Who’s going to build the road, what is the cost of it, and where’s it going to be?

Joe Anderson: Lives in Ogden by choice. Believes it will make more sense to have a streetcar. Of the proposed development, “They will not allow you to walk through their gated community.” Stated that the development would “destroy the heart of Ogden’s trail system.

Jack Hartman: Advocated that the energy be changed from opposition to compromise. Does not like seeing so many of his friends move away.

Bob Geiger: Stated that most of the people in the room were old, and that it was the old people who were in opposition. He was young, and young people like him are in favor of this development. Stated that Chris Peterson does not intend to build a road up there and instead will accomplish the construction of the resort via a “materiel moving gondola.” Mentioned that the meeting had been called in order to form an opposition to the development. There is no need to form a neighborhood plan right now, since one is in development.

Jim Craig: “Sign the petition, if you believe in it.” Thinks the development would be a “huge mistake.”

Russ Thorne: Was a schoolteacher for 30 years. Mentioned that on the drive up to the meeting, Mount Ogden Park was full of children playing. On weekends, it’s used even more. Lives in Ogden because “we fell in love with the mountains.” Stated that “Involve Ogden” has as one of its goals high paying jobs, and that a resort does not provide these. Where is Mayor Godfrey? Why is he not at this meeting? Stated that Mayor Godfrey has stated that Ogden City government is “a republic,”
and that Mayor Godfrey interprets this to mean that, havng been elected, he has free reign.

Jim Larkin: Family has been in Ogden 150 years. Is on the fence about these issues. Thanked SmartGrowth for giving people the opportunity to speak about them. Appreciates the Ogden trails committee. Stated that development is not necessarily a bad thing, but that the challenge was to make it “smart growth.” Mentioned Boulder’s “Blue Line” ordinance, which has been strictly enforced. This ordinance drew a blue line around the base of the mountains, and mandated that the city would pump no water above that blue line.

Rick Safsten: Stated that it was untrue to state that he supported the proposed development. The Ogden City Council had published a statement in the Standard Examiner as to its position, which was one of neutrality until it received a proposal. It has still received no proposal, and he therefore still holds a neutral position. “Remember, this is an extremely complex process.” Ended by stating that, “Ogden has got to expand its tax base.”

Harley Shupe: Asks that, although the Council has received no proposal, has Mayor Godfrey received a proposal? “His son in law has learned well from him,” referring to the relationship between Chris Peterson and Earl Holding, owner of Snowbasin and Sinclair Oil. “I caution this city” against selling this land.

Spence(?) Robinson: “Education is everything.” This development will not benefit all of Ogden. “The rest of us will be left out in the cold.” In reference to Mayor Godfrey’s concept of Ogden being a Republic, “I teach Civics--I don’t think so.”

Tom(?) ?: Stated he was indifferent on the topic. Mentioned that the homes in Ogden above Fillmore were at one time a new development. Would not like it however, “if they took away the trails.” Stated that the objective of the housing development/resort was not to create high-paying jobs, but to bring them in.

(?) Cunningham: Archeologist by profession. Is not in favor of this development. Ogden does need development, however, and is in favor of “thoughtful planning of our community.”

(?) Rowan(?): Was on the trails and encountered Chris Peterson, who was accompanied by the owner of Fenda(?) gondola. Had a discussion during which Peterson told her that the resort would not be west facing, but north facing, and said she was “irresponsible” for disagreeing with his project.

At this point, Judge Roth closed the public comment and Sandra Crosland thanked everyone for coming. (Sound system problems.) “We do not need an emergency approach.” In reference to Mr. Montgomery’s opinion that neighborhood plans should not take place when a neighborhood is embroiled in controversy, he had also stated that in the space of controversy, solutions happened. She ended by thanking everyone again for attending, and stated that it was vital that everyone remain involved in the public process. She then announced the following events:

Thursday, April 13th, 5 PM

An Ogden City Council work session which will be held in Council Chambers so that the public can attend. Mayor Godfrey will give a presentation on the proposed development, land sale, etc.

April 19th (Check times) WSU Ballroom:

Chris Peterson will give three presentations to the public on his development proposal.

__________________________

Luminaries Present at this SmartGrowth meeting Tuesday, April 11th, were:

State Representative Neil Hansen

Dorrene Jeske, Jesse Garcia, Bill Glasmann, Amy Wicks, Rick Safsten (from the Ogden City Council)

Bill Cook, Executive Director of the Ogden City Council

Kent Jorgensen, formerly Ogden City Council