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No decision yet on school board’s request for 1200 East rezone

November 8th, 2012 Posted in Opinion

By Heidi Vaughan

LOGAN –  No final decision was made at a recent meeting of the Logan Board of Education and Logan Municipal Council about rezoning of the  gravel pit property at 1200 East, but new information was brought to the table on how the zoning of the gravel pit land, labeled as mixed residential high, will not condemn all potential for future growth and stability in the school district.

Board of Education Superintendent Marshal Garrett expressed concerns for the present plan’s adverse consequences. “Logan city does not have any other available land for middle, upper middle class homes other than that piece of property. And those homes are the type of homes that allow for families to stay in Logan.”

The 20 acres on 1200 East is allotted for 8 acres for single family units and 12 acres for multiple family units. The multiple family units often allow for an increase in short-term residents through rentals, diminishing potential for permanent families to settle in that area.

“They’re not finding anything on the east bench; they are moving either to the south to Nibley or to the north to Hyde Park and North Logan, and it’s because they have the chance to build. They cannot find a lot within the city of Logan,” Garrett said.

The 30-acre Hancey property was the municipal council’s response. Adjacent to the gravel pit, this area, zoned as neighborhood residential eastside, has 25 acres dedicated to single family unit development, an option that Garrett was not previously aware existed.

Director of Community Development Mike Desmoine was present and discussed the benefits of OneHome, a program directed by the city that has sub-programs like safe route and curb appeal, aimed at strengthening local neighborhoods. In time the changes produced by the program will aid in strengthening the school district as well, he said.

One of the goals of OneHome is to have better communities instill incentive for families to stay local. “That’s one of the purposes of the programs we do, is to try to rehabilitate neighborhoods where they need some help,” Desmoine said. “The idea is that you make it a nicer place, more attractive, people will stay there as their primary residence rather than leaving and turning those into rentals. And what we find is that home ownership usually equates to neighborhood stability, where as rentals usually don’t equate to neighborhood stability.”

Garrett said he would still like to have additional discussion. “It was nice to know that the bottom area is still in single family homes though I want to have further discussion on that buffer area. What I want to do is work with the board, and then have further communication with the city after our next board session.”

NW

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