Six years after a tumultuous form-of-government change rocked Holladay, Mayor Dennis Webb says the city finally has come together, united by a commitment to preserve the east-side suburb's leafy charm.
But his opponent, City Councilman Barry Topham, says the mayor is leading Holladay down the wrong path, with development projects that threaten the community's quality of life.
On Nov. 3, Holladay voters will decide whether to give Webb four more years or replace him with Topham.
A dermatologist and owner of a Holladay clinic, Topham ran for council in 2007 after learning about plans to transform the former Cottonwood Mall with hundreds of condos, high-rise offices and shops. Topham says he is "against mixed-use" projects because of the heights and multi-family housing they often include.
Besides plans for 500 or so condos at the now-stalled Cottonwood development, he also objects to 81 units slated for the Village Center, which is taking shape at Holladay Boulevard and Murray-Holladay Road.
"I'm all for adding commercial businesses. I just don't think we need more high-density, residential housing," he says. "We also don't need more population."
The city has 25,676 people, according to a 2008 survey by the U.S. Census Bureau. Adding more, Topham says, would bring more pollution, noise and crime.
Webb says the city is largely built out -- don't expect a population boom in Holladay -- but there is an opportunity to provide a variety of housing stock so "our children and grandchildren can live here."
The Village Center and Cottonwood plans, he contends, reflect a consensus reached by the City Council, Planning Commission and mall owner, with inclusion of public feedback, after hundreds of hours of work.
"They are well-thought-out plans," says Webb, co-founder of FranklinCovey. "Economic centers need to be vibrant. ... Mixed-use with a residential component has been and seems to be the most effective way to make these areas work economically."
Zoning for both projects has been approved. Property owners can build the allotted number of housing units if they choose, but Topham hopes the slow economy could spur some revisions.
Topham also objects to the city's use of Redevelopment Agency projects to subsidize the developments -- although he voted for the $96 million Cottonwood incentive, lending a unanimous 6-0 stamp of approval. Topham says it was a "done deal," so he cast his vote to try to heal some of the wounds caused by his strident opposition, including sending a letter to the Granite School Board asking it to opt out of the project and "save Holladay" from "its elected officials."
Webb says steering some of the new property taxes generated by redevelopment to offset infrastructure costs makes sense. The city gets a voice in what kind of development takes place. Without the Cottonwood deal, he suggests, the land could have been converted to a big-box strip mall. Also, he stresses, developers cannot collect the assistance until their buildings are in place.
Topham accuses Webb and other council members of holding "secret meetings" and signing "secret agreements" with mall developer General Growth Properties (GGP) before the plans were unveiled in July 2007. He suggests much of the project was crafted behind closed doors.
Webb acknowledges the council signed nondisclosure agreements to learn insider information about the mall overhaul, including potential tenants, before the details could be released. He asked attorney Craig Hall of the Salt Lake City firm Chapman and Cutler, which provides attorney services to Holladay, to review the allegation of secret meetings.
In a letter to Webb and the council, Hall determines "no secret meetings were held or conducted," noting that every council meeting with a quorum -- four or more members -- was properly noticed and open.
Topham points out those rules don't apply to meetings with fewer than four council members.
In the letter, Hall states "representatives of GGP did meet with members of the City Council and Planning Commission individually to explain their concepts or ideas. No [development] agreements or contracts were ever discussed outside of City Council meetings."
On Cottonwood Mall and the Holladay Village Center
Topham » Opposes multi-family housing at both sites and dislikes mixed-use projects in general.
Webb » Supports the projects as planned. Says housing makes economic centers more "vibrant."
On open space near Tuscany restaurant
Webb » Supports the city's decision to buy eight acres to create Knudsen Park near 6300 South and Holladay Boulevard. "With such limited open space in our community, that's something future generations will be so grateful we purchased."
Topham » Opposes the purchase and accompanying bond debt, says the site near a freeway ramp is "not appropriate" for a park. Would prefer to see the land used for Tuscany parking, a small office building and houses to the west.
On term limits and campaign-contribution caps
Topham » Would like to see mayor and City Council tenures limited to eight or 10 years (if someone is appointed to a two-year term). Argues contributions should be capped at $200 per family. He does not accept any campaign cash.
Webb » Does not favor term limits, says voters get to decide at election time. Worries caps on campaign contributions infringe on freedom of expression, but voted for a failed measure that would have limited donations to $1,000 per person. He accepts contributions.
Council District 1 » Sabrina Peterson and Carol Scott vie for an open seat after voters booted Councilman Grant Orton in the primary.
Council District 3 » Councilwoman Patricia Pignanelli faces challenger Steve Fotheringham.
