Ed Goble, who has owned his home on 800 West near 900 South for 17 years, voiced concerns about diminishing property values, increased traffic and rising crime that he believes the station's two park-and-ride lots will cause.

"We're the only neighborhood in this rail corridor this close to a park-and-ride," Goble told planning commissioners Tuesday. "I think you need to ensure our safety."

According to Goble, traffic in front of his house is already a problem.

One recent fender-bender shot a car 30 feet into his yard, Goble told UTA Commuter Rail Manager Steve Meyer after the meeting.

Goble had hoped to convince UTA to eliminate the site's second access closest to his home. He passed out a drawing showing how one access point at the north end would suffice if traffic looped circularly through the 225-stall parking lot .

Goble pointed out that two UTA park-and-ride lots in Midvale have single access. He also said his design would actually provide UTA with more parking stalls.

UTA's Meyer was not convinced that Goble's was a better design.

"You need to give it a chance," Meyer told Goble, noting that UTA does the best it can with grading and landscaping to mitigate such impacts.

"You'll have fewer cars in front of your house" - if the parking area has two access points from 800 West, Meyer told Goble.

Glen Benson, who lives a few doors north of Goble, questioned the value of this commuter rail station to residents in Woods Cross. For riders heading south, it will be the last stop in Davis County before entering Salt Lake County.

"If I want to take my family to the Jazz game, it would be cheaper to drive and pay for parking," Benson said.

Goble was further irked that commuter rail - which he believes only 5 percent of the population will use - could cost him 10 percent of his property value.

Meyer said he had statistics sto the contrary.

The Planning Commission had previously approved UTA's site plan for the station, with the caveat of a field trip that further explored the concerns of the neighborhood.

"I'm as concerned as the residents are," said Commissioner Ryan Westergard. "But I need to rely on the engineers. A single access point concerns me because of emergency access.

"I would feel more comfortable with two accesses and I think the street out in front will be safer as a result," he said.

Commission members unanimously agreed that UTA had fulfilled its obligation regarding the previously approved site plan..

The commuter rail line linking Salt Lake, Davis and Weber counties, along with eight stations, should be open by spring 2008, Meyer said.

cmckitrick@sltrib.com