Draper • Residents didn't waste any time Tuesday challenging Draper's plans to subdivide a 145-acre tract for a transit-oriented district.

Debra Wangsgard, head of Citizens for Responsible Government, filed an appeal of the city zoning administrator's decisions regarding the project at 12880 S. Galena Park Blvd. (550 West) five hours before the City Council approved the district.

She said the city did not require the project to go through the Master Area Plan process, which lays the groundwork for putting in roads, utilities and storm drainage.

"What they are doing," Wangsgard said, "is giving us infrastructure without telling us what is going to be there."

The appeal will be heard by a city-appointed arbitrator. Russell Fox, the city's zoning administrator, said the appeal was filed too late to prevent the council's action.

Wangsgard and her group also challenged Draper for greenlighting the developer, CLC Associates, to put a road through a buffer zone between residents and the development — a place she said included wetlands.

Still, the council voted unanimously to approve subdividing the tract into six lots, the first step CLC Associates needs before it can plan roads and rights of way within the development.

The city intends the property to be the location of a Utah Transit Authority FrontRunner station.

Councilman Jeff Stenquist said the city did not have to do the in-depth area plan at this time because there was no development taking place. He also said city ordinances allow roads in buffer zones.

Stenquist rebuked residents who spoke out against the project at an Aug. 2 public hearing, characterizing their comments as "slanderous attacks" on city officials.

Wangsgard accused the city of approving a subdivision without vital information the area plan process would provide. She said there is no information to determine how much traffic will be generated or how much water will be needed by future occupants.

"What is the rush?" Wangsgard asked. "The economy is horrible and the real estate market is in the toilet."

dmeyers@sltrib.com