Continuing my post from yesterday on the topic of providing sufficient housing for our future generations.

I posed the question (as have many others before me) of who speaks for the potential future residents of our communities when hearings are held on zoning and general plan changes?  Goodness knows we get plenty of comments from those who already have their homes, and want to keep things just like they are.

Well, many of you know that I serve in my retirement on the Kaysville Planning Commission.  Recently we considered a rezone application from low density single-family zone to a moderate density one which would allow for multi-unit structures.  The property was located in a single-family neighborhood, but fronting on a major street. While the city’s general plan designated the general area for low density single-family, it did also say that higher densities could be considered adjacent to collector and arterial roads.

At the required public hearing, we got, as you might expect, plenty of comments about how inappropriate such a request was, how it would ruin the neighborhood and lower property values.  But then, there was this written comment, sent in just prior to the hearing.  I’ll reprint it here without revealing the commenter’s name:

So disappointing to see the planning commission doing planning stuff. Your job is to listen to the current residents. How DARE you plan for future residents, needs, and growth? It’s appalling. My ancestors founded this town, and they planned it perfectly already. No changes or updates necessary! But no, people keep bulldozing the beautiful farms and houses to make way for greedy developers. No more Californians ruining our beautiful city! I was appalled when my house got built, and especially appalled at all the other houses that got built after mine.

I know you won’t listen to me–you NEVER do– but those are my two cents. I’ll be loudly rolling my eyes in the back of the room until the end of time in case you ever want to talk.

As a potential future resident of Kaysville, but who currently can’t afford a single family home anywhere in the city..

Well, I guess I was wrong. We DO sometimes hear from those who aren’t in town yet. This one had an address of South Jordan.  But do we listen?  In this case, the PC recommended approval of the application, but the council, who has ultimate authority, did not.