Layton » After emptying the packed council chambers early Friday morning, residents made calls to those who didn't come for the past-midnight vote.
The news: Council members approved, 4 to 1, rezoning 70 acres of an agricultural area to allow up to 303 homes on a rolling hillside.
Those hills were the subject of a years-long controversy. Neighbors remember the nearby Heather Drive landslide and worry what could happen to adjacent properties -- as well as future homeowners.
Because the land was considered sensitive by the city, the rezone required several geo-technical studies and review, as well as third-party investigations. Staffers said those studies indicated the hills could be developed by the North Salt Lake-based Adams Property LLC.
The City Council, mayor, manager and city attorney consoled the opposing audience that the vote was only the first part in the process: The individual lot approvals would require even more extensive geotechnical and groundwater studies.
"I think you will find that many of your issues are addressed," City Manager Alex Jensen told the crowd as it readied to shuffle out.
While many of the Layton officials' statements drew guffaws from the residents, Councilman Scott Freitag evoked applause for opposing the zone change.
He asked his colleagues whether that land was correctly designated for residential uses in the general plan, considering the area's landslide history. Freitag also was concerned about what could happen if the hill was plowed and graded -- but the development not completed.
Adams Property also submitted a development agreement with the rezone request, noting it would conserve at least 16 south-end acres as open space in exchange for higher density elsewhere.
But resident David Paulson called the agreement a "bailout" for the builder, who knew the south portion was too unstable to develop. Paulson said the 16-acre park was part of a pitch to get more single-family homes, and even townhomes, than would normally be permitted.
