SUMMARY OF INFORMATION PRESENTED AT KAYSVILLE TOWN HALL MEETING: March 17th AT DAVIS HIGH AUDITORIUM
The community meeting was organized by Kaysville City and a committee of resident representatives from 8 different neighborhoods in West Kaysville. 3 UDOT officials were present, including West Davis Corridor project manager Randall Jefferies. A representative from the Army Corps of Engineers was also present in the audience and responded to a few questions.
Kaysville Mayor Steve Hiatt and the City Council were present and actively participated in the meeting. State Representatives Brad Miller and Stuart Adams were not present at the meeting.
Kaysville City Council Members, Mayor Hiatt, and a neighborhood rep interact with the crowd at Mar. 17 TownHall meeting. UDOT officials were seated just across the stage.
NOTE: On slide 18 from the link above, routes A-1 and C-1 list a budget figure of $2.0 million for acquisition of 10 homes. (These figures are preliminary, but interesting to do the math on UDOT's estimated value per home) Route B-1 has been thrown out. UDOT has posted an FAQ document about property acquisitions that can be viewed here: http://www.udot.utah.gov/westdavis/files/FAQ_ROWFAQsMarch2011.pdf * While speaking about the Glover Lane and Shepard Lane routes in Farmington (slides 11-13 in top link) Mr. Jefferies said that "both routes are being looked at equally."
Following Mr. Jefferies presentation, (which focused almost exclusively on the Farmington alternatives, cost, and I-15 connections rather than the Kaysville route) Kaysville City Council members read a series of questions that were formed by the committee of neighborhood representatives, and then questions from the audience were taken as well. During this second hour, there was some new information that was gathered from UDOT officials when the crowd and Councilman Gil Miller pressed the UDOT officials.
Here below are some highlights of the new information gathered during Q&A session: QUESTION -UDOT OFFICIALS WERE ASKED TO COMMENT SPECIFICALLY ON A ROUTE WEST OF THE KAYSVILLE POWERLINES: * UDOT engineers are currently looking at 12 different alignment possibilities for the West Kaysville area including moving powerlines, moving just the smaller powerlines, running northbound lanes East of the lines and Southbound lanes West of the lines, and others.
QUESTION - UDOT OFFICIALS WERE ASKED HOW FAR WEST THE ROAD WOULD GO: * UDOT Project Mgr Randall Jefferies stated that any alignment West of the lines would be "Right along the lines because the further West we go, the more wetlands we run into." QUESTION - UDOT OFFICIALS WERE ASKED FOR SPECIFICS ON COMPENSATION FOR THOSE HOMEOWNERS WHOSE HOUSES WOULD BE DEMOLISHED: * When asked about compensation for homeowners whose houses would be demolished, Mr. Jefferies said there is currently "no funding available" and that homeowner compensation would not commence until 2013. When he was pressed further and asked about what would be done for those who are underwater with their mortgage, he stated that UDOT can promise only "fair market value based on current home values" - NOT on what homeowners paid for their homes. (UDOT's FAQ Document about home acquisitions emphasizes "fair market value" and refers to current comps of other homes sold in the area, etc. More info at the link below) http://www.udot.utah.gov/westdavis/files/FAQ_ROWFAQsMarch2011.pdf
QUESTION - UDOT OFFICIALS WERE ASKED WHETHER THE ADDITION OF SOUNDWALLS, BERMS, OR TRAILS COULD CREATE A NEED TO DEMOLISH MORE HOMES THAN THE CURRENT 17 THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED UNDER THE CURRENT KAYSVILLE ROUTE PROPOSAL: * UDOT Project Mgr Jefferies replied that "yes, as the final route settles more firmly into place its possible that the number of home acquisitions could change."
QUESTION - UDOT OFFICIALS WERE ASKED WHAT TYPE OF COMPENSATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO THOSE FAMILIES WHOSE HOMES END UP RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE ROAD: * UDOT officials said there will be NO compensation for homes left right on the edge of the highway, nor any compensation for lower property values
UDOT OFFICIALS COMMENT ON THE PUBLIC COMMENTS QUESTIONING WHETHER THE LAND WEST OF THE POWERLINES IS REALLY WETLANDS:* Based on feedback from the public, the UDOT officials said that UDOT is doing further analysis and study to confirm the "wetlands" status of land West of Kaysville. The Representative from the Army Corps of Engineers also stated that the land "only needs to be wet for 5% of the growing season to fall under wetland criteria." (this brought numerous comments from the crowd including "you just described my backyard!")