February Updates
Hello Cottonwood Heights constituents,
You specifically inquired on certain topics. Here are updates on those requests.
RIPARIAN SECTION of SLEDS
7:00pm, February 15th Town Hall Meeting to hear citizen concerns and share latest updates to the Riparian Section of SLEDS (Sensitive Lands Evaluation & Development Standards) ordinance updating. Location: CH City Hall, 2277 E Bengal Blvd.
INTERNET FIBER LINES.
Staff will present their final negotiations and recommendation to acquire Google fiber lines at the 4pm, Feb 21st City Council "work meeting" held at City Hall. See ch.utah.gov for virtual viewing. At that time I should be able to ascertain an approximate timeline for the implementation of high speed fiber lines for CH residents.
DOVER HILLS UPDATE
Brief: Currently, a council majority approves of the plan. For the record, I have been concerned about the "play area" of the park having too much slope for children's usage other than for sledding in wintertime. I voiced this concern during the initial discussion when no topography lines were included in the "sketch". I was told that it would not have any significant slope. Later diagrams including topo lines revealed this not to be the case. I also voiced earlier statements made by residents. I do not share the council majority view but I do appreciate an effort to preserve part of the acreage as a green space & park.
FYI, my preference is to have numerous small green spaces through Cottonwood Heights aiming for all residents to have a ten-minute walking shed for both green space and "small commercial" (small cafe, boutique grocer or bakery, etc.)
Back story: The approximate seven-acres where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ward house, pavilion and park has stood for many decades was put up for sale by the real estate division of the church ("the church") a few years ago. While the City of Cottonwood Heights tried to get the church to donate the park to the public, they insisted on a market-priced sale. The city put in an offer for the easterly most two acres to be preserved as park. Ivory Homes began the process to acquire the other acreage on which they'd build housing.
In 2021, it was ascertained through trenching (part of the SLEDS (Sensitive Lands Evaluation and Development Standards) process, that the northwestern section (under the ward house and parking area) has too many fault lines for habitable structures.
By late 2021, the city agreed to let Ivory advance a building plan for houses to be positioned in the southwest and also wrapping from southeastern to northeastern side of the park.
In 2022, Cottonwood Hts Planning Commission unanimously approved Ivory's initial plat plan for 13 houses within a PUD (Planned Unit Development). It has also passed the Cottonwood Hts ARC (Architectural Committee).
Homeowners within the surrounding neighborhoods have voiced concerns over building heights and setbacks. Some wanted to preserve the pavilion, others didn't care about the pavilion but indicated greatest usage was of the baseball diamond by summer and sledding by winter. Concerns have also been raised about the amount of "fill" Ivory will be allowed and it has been advised by ARC that Ivory will be held to the absolute minimum levels of fill dirt for purposes of structural stability and preservation of viewsheds for existing residents living on the north side of the park.
UTA TRAX
Free Fare February is back! This month, take advantage of free UTA services to improve your commute, and clean up the air. All UTA bus and rail services, including the FrontRunner are completely free for the month of February. The free fare even extends to UTA’s ‘On Demand’ service that connects riders with the other transit services.
Last year, UTA experienced significant increases in ridership during Free Fare February.
Vehicle emissions are one of the leading sources of PM2.5 in winter inversion. While the inversion is inevitable, we do have control over how severe it gets, and how much it impacts our health.
Increasing ridership and improving air quality when fares are free can help push lawmakers in the direction of year-round free mass transit. A bill that surfaced last year, H.B. 164 aimed to do just that. Representative Joel Briscoe is bringing it back this session, so make sure your representatives know where you stand on free transit.
HILLSIDE PLAZA UPDATE
I support the city bonding for the 10 acre parcel currently known as the Hillside Plaza. It is with the intention of creating a public center and to set the “main street” tone for the Fort Union Blvd Corridor that stretches westward from the Hillside Plaza for a mile or so. The city council’s intention is to create a multi-use design including housing, public and commercial spaces to human scale utilizing a form-based code. We intend to put this out to bid and identify a developer to relieve the majority of the financial burden from the city.
Didn’t hit your subject of interest or concern? Email or text me, I’ll get back with you ASAP. (You can also use the Home Page “contact form”.)
In community,
Ellen Birrell 385.910.5942 ebirrell@ch.utah.gov