My name is Mike Kieffer, I am the chief editor of The Cedar Valley Sentinel, an Ambassador for the Eagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce, owner of Lake Mountain Media, LLC, and co-owner of Quail Run Farms, but I don’t address you today in any of those roles, I address you as Mike Kieffer, resident of Eagle Mountain.
It is time for the City of Eagle Mountain to NOT put developers above the residents and to stop spending taxpayer money, and city resources to make developers profit. Over the last several years I have listened to the Planning Commission and City Council Work and Policy Sessions and have concluded that the Resident has little to do with the decision-making process. The developers ask, and the city then requests code changes and changes to the General Plan Future Land Use Map all geared to help the developers make more profit on their developments.
One example is the Special Session that was called for the FireFly development. This special session was called for a developer that contributed $8,000 dollars to Mayor Westmoreland’s campaign fund as well as donated to previous campaigns of Councilmember Burnham. During that special session the city arranged for the development to purchase water, something the developer needed and was unable to do without help, and transfer the cost of the infrastructure to future homeowners in the form of a property tax (yes, I know it was done 13 years ago and this was just a modification of that). The developer was also given permission to build an entrance monument that dwarfs the current Overland sign (that residents were not happy about) The agreement even allows the developer to create a hill to put the megalithic sign on. Remember, this is the same area where a developer put in a faulty water, and sewer system that the city had to spend millions of dollars to fix after they annexed White Hills into the city.
There is also another development on recent agendas that I have heard the City Council and Planning Commission discuss how they can help make the development profitable for the developer. This developer purchased land and then was unable to turn it into the profit they wanted quickly. So they have come back time after time to have the city change zoning, master planning maps, and adjust codes so that it can be profitable. If it is the purpose of the City to help developers make money, then they should also be helping small business owners and residents make money. And I say that their policies to help developers are doing just the opposite.
Time after time the developers who purchased land in Eagle Mountain to make a quick buck, have wanted to city to help them make their development profitable by changing code, making water deals, and setting up taxing entities so they can avoid having to pay the cost of infrastructure. My question is how does this help the residents of Eagle Mountain? Currently, Eagle Mountain already has two times as many housing units vested that are unbuilt. In essence, if all promised lots were built Eagle Mountain would have triple the current homes, without any of these new changes or developments. These changes to code do nothing but allow the developers to come back and increase density.
The city has done resident surveys, and time after time they come back telling the city that density is not what the residents want, the residents don’t want 15-minute communities. They want rural communities, farms, and horse property. Developers can’t make millions on those types of properties, so they grease the wheels by donating to campaigns and pushing for ordinance changes and zoning variances to give the current residents of Eagle Mountain a product they don’t want. A product that is counter to the land uses that residents have already purchased, built, and moved to Eagle Mountain for. If you must change the General Plan Future Land Use Map to make development happen, you are in essence doing a bait and switch on those residents that purchased property based on what the city said was going to put in that area.
Let me give you some concrete examples of how giving developers what they want and changing code causes issues and problems with residents and small business owners.
First, water rights. The city is worried about stormwater, and it should be. But if they are so worried about stormwater, then why do they allow sub-divisions to be built without storm drains and curbing? Glenmar is a perfect example of a sub-division that was approved that was given a variance for curbing. The water is not collected, but the city will fine and shut down a small business owner that is running a mobile detailing business because he is washing cars in people’s driveways or on the street and allowing the water to run into the street. Instead of removing hurdles for developers, the city should be finding ways to help the small business be able to continue to do its work without violation of city code. The city will also bend over backward to help developers that don’t have enough water to build the density they want to get the water they need. Firefly is a perfect example. If a resident wanted to help relieve the water system and put in a well, would the city help with that effort, and help purchase the water right for the well and approve a permit to drill it?
Second, street sizes. By making the setbacks smaller, changing the frontage laws, and pushing walkable communities, you are in essence removing street parking as well as making driveways smaller and the ability for residents to build additional parking on their lots. This causes a lot of issues for the residents but allows developers to make more money by reducing infrastructure costs and increasing density. Residents must park on the street, but because there are fewer streets and narrow streets, it creates bottlenecks. Most streets in Eagle Mountain are so narrow that they are not wide enough for three cars. Small business owners are forced to park work vehicles and trailers on the street because there is not adequate parking. The city is willing to remove barriers for developers so they can make their developments profitable, but it hurts future residents in the process.
Third, mega entrance monuments. Overland and now Firefly are perfect examples of this. Everyone knew that the Overland sign was not something that residents wanted. I understand it is not that clear-cut. But then small home-based businesses are extremely limited in the type of signage they are allowed to have for their business. They are limited to signs provided by the Eagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce, or a small sign that really can’t be noticed from the street on their own property. This is what the city needs to address and spent time on, helping small businesses be able to advertise their services, not allowing developers to create mega memorials to themselves.
Other cities are looking at Eagle Mountain and are asking how we are doing what we are doing. They are not asking this because we have 15-minute communities, or because we have high density. They are asking this because we are different. Let’s keep Eagle Mountain different, we don’t need to turn Eagle Mountain into what the rest of the State looks like. I moved to Eagle Mountain to avoid living in Salt Lake City, Provo, or Orem. I wanted to be close to big cities, but not live around high-density housing, I wanted to be able to see the sky and see horses, chickens, barns, and fields as I drove to work. Most residents moved here for the same reason. Quit doing what developers are pushing you to do by trying to make Eagle Mountain like every other city in Utah. Let’s keep Eagle Mountain unique.
I drop the gauntlet and invite anyone who wishes to enter the public sphere and discuss this topic with me to do so. I promise to publish your written rebuttal or comments without editing on The Cedar Valley Sentinel.
Mike Kieffer is an IT geek by hobby and trade, with a BS in Information Systems & Technology. He is a proud father of 10, a grandpa, an author, a journalist, and internet publisher. His motto is to “Elevate, Inspire and Inform”, and he is politically conservative and a Christian. Mike has a passion for technology, writing, and helping others. With a wealth of experience, he is committed to sharing his knowledge with others to help them reach their full potential. He is known for his jackassery or his form of self-expression that encourages boldness, creativity, and risk-taking. It can be a way to push the boundaries and challenge traditional norms, leading to creative solutions and positive change.