Development in the city
Salt Lake City needs to rethink their develop-at-all-costs attitude in order to protect the health and meet the needs of local residents. Unfortunately, it seems like they are prepared to move full steam ahead on new development projects, regardless of the lack of resources and support.
The Northpoint area in Salt Lake City is one of the last remaining rural parts of the city. A proposed update to the Northpoint Small Area Plan, though, has sent developers door to door with warehouse proposals.
“Developers recently have gone door to door along the east side of 2200 West with warehouse proposals. Some of them warn neighbors about what’s coming — houseless and with more commercial buildings aligning with the adjacent airport and, farther west, the Utah Inland Port. They have a choice, developers say: Live next to a manufacturing facility or sell” a Salt Lake Tribune article writes.
“There seem to be some different driving forces that do not have the interest of the community in mind. The interests of the community being noise, sound, air, water, pollution, traffic,” a Northpoint resident says in the article.
City planners are responding to these concerns by essentially saying ‘too bad’ to local residents. Because of the neighborhood’s proximity to the airport, and warehouse and transloading facilities like the Utah Inland Port, the city doesn’t see the area fit for new residential development. But does that mean the whole neighborhood must be condemned to warehouse central? Landowners are able to hold onto their properties, however their quality of life will be indescribably diminished by the lights, noise, truck traffic, and increased pollution in their neighborhood.
The draft is expected to go to the planning commission in late October. After that, the City Council would vote on whether to approve it. If this is of interest to you or someone you know, we encourage you to write to the City Council and voice your opinion on the plan for our city.