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Letter: We aren’t anti-growth in Holladay, but let’s be realistic about it

(Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune) Signs in the front yards of homeowners in the area of the old Cottonwood Mall site near 4800 S. Highland Drive in Holladay on Tuesday March 13, 2018.

As a longtime resident of Holladay, I think your “NIMBY? So Where?” editorial of Aug. 14 misses the point. I think the residents of Holladay are just saying the proposed development is out of character for our community.

We love Holladay because it is, and always has been, a special place. It has managed to maintain its unique character while other areas have changed dramatically. I doubt that any of us aspire to be Sugar House, Sandy or even Cottonwood Heights.

We have managed to keep a low profile while other towns have allowed massive growth.

I think I am probably among the majority of residents who signed the petition in feeling that the height of the buildings to accommodate 775 apartments is out of scale for our community. Personally, I feel that we would be very accepting of growth if the buildings are no higher than the existing Macy's structure, which I understand is some 65 feet. This should accommodate about half of the requested transient apartments and is a manageable number that I feel is realistic and acceptable.

There are other issues regarding tax incentives that I will leave to others who are more astute than I to resolve.

I have great respect for Clark Ivory and feel that the Ivory company will build a project we can all be proud of. Just lower the buildings so they fit our community.

Kent Topham, Holladay