Homes have since built up around it, giving Hog Wallow unique status as a neighborhood bar. The popular watering hole draws a mixed clientele of corporate types, skiers, and, yes, the neighbors two or three doors down.
As a legal, nonconforming use - the bar predates any zoning laws - owners Keith and Scott Biesinger have kept tabs on the Cottonwood Heights' efforts to enact a general plan and new zoning ordinances. The city was incorporated in January and has to create its own direction after decades of being under Salt Lake County.
The city's message to property owners like the Biesingers is: Very little will change in terms of current land use.
"We did not go through and change anyone's zoning rights," said Councilman Scott Bracken. "So what it was before, it is now."
The overall intent was to simplify the zoning code and to do no harm, said Community Development Director Kevin Smith. The 40 zoning designations formerly in use under the county structure were reduced to 15.
Areas once zoned agricultural are now zoned "rural residential" to more accurately reflect the land use.
Tonight at 7, the City Council will vote to adopt the new general plan, which is the compilation of hundreds of hours of work undertaken over the past seven months.
"Basically it's a vision for the future - what we want the city to look like in 10 to 20 years," Bracken said. "In our case, we're pretty much built out. So future plans are consistent with what's already there."
Cullimore described the general plan as part of the city's "birthing" process. State law gives new cities a six-month moratorium on zoning requests. This allows time to set up the necessary laws and documents.
"The most challenging aspect was trying to get as much public comment as possible," Smith said, adding that the city held 15 to 20 public meetings - half a dozen in various neighborhoods - to hear from residents.
More than 1,000 of them participated in the process - either through e-mail or in person, Smith said.
Residents voiced strong support for urban trails and parks, and strong opposition to any new taxes to fund them.
"The plan really reflects what the citizens want. We won't be raising any taxes to put in new trails," Bracken said. "We want to provide services within the constraints we've got."
cmckitrick@sltrib.com
Cottonwood Heights:
Incorporated Jan. 14, 2005.
12,055 households, average household size 2.98 people.
93.4 percent Anglo.
2.9 percent Latino.
2.4 percent Asian.
0.7 percent African-American.
1999 median household income $69,562.
In 2004, prior to incorporation, its 183 businesses provided professional, scientific and technical services.
In 2004, the 2,088 people employed in the area worked in finance- and insurance-related businesses.
Largest employers: Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Home Depot, JetBlue Airways, Jordan School District, Overstock.com, Target
Source: Cottonwood Heights General Plan
Cottonwood Heights contracted with Coopers Roberts Simonsen Associates, a Salt Lake City-based architectural firm, to produce a new general plan. It can be viewed online at http://www.cottonwoodheightscity.com. Hard copies should be available by Friday at city offices, 1265 E. Fort Union Blvd., Suite 250.
