The Centerville Foothills

The foothills above Centerville are a excellent asset to the City.  I believe their condition should not change significantly from their current state.  Development of the foothills for residential use or significant recreational use presents far too many questions than potential benefits.

In 2009 the City Council established an oversight steering committee to develop a draft plan for the potential development of the foothills.  The proposed plan can be found on the City's website; it includes 12 guiding statements to potential development.  The plan evaluates the feasibility of annexation of land into the City, recreational development, or residential development.  There are very few areas that are good potential candidates for annexation.  The plan does identify some areas for potential residential and/or recreational development.  Most of the areas for development are found at the south end of the City on land already owned by Centerville.

Further development of the foothills presents serious concerns about future impacts to any new development, and certainly, existing developed areas.  For example, in the 1930's the area now known at the Dikes or ATV Bowl was created for the purpose of capturing spring runoff and allowing it to seep into the sandy soil to fill the natural underground aquifers.  However, in time, problems of water coming up into basements and cellars in homes below the dikes were attributed to the changes in water runoff on the mountainside.  Any significant development either for recreational or residential use could produce the same changes in natural runoff that could present similar problems.  As it is, when the north-eastern side of Island View Drive was developed several springs were uncovered which have presented drainage issues for residents especially during wet years like the one we've been experiencing.

Adequate access to the areas discussed cannot currently be assured without significant road building and excavation.  Potential adverse impacts to the existing Weber Basin Aqueduct that runs along the Centerville Foothills as well as the overall cost of such excavation and construction are significant factors.

The City owns the gun range that runs along the Bonneville Shoreline just below the V.  There are not very many options for residents to practice safe target shooting nearby.  The gun range is situated so that no existing structures are at risk as long as responsible shooting is exercised.

Finally, it is particularly beautiful to look up at the mountains and see, well, mountains.  If you look to the south in Bountiful you'll notice a lot of homes and roads cut into the side of the mountain.  The potential benefits of a small handful of new homes do not outweigh the drawbacks from what some might call sight pollution.

Let's leave the foothills just they way they are and focus potential development on other, more productive areas in the city such as the west side.

The City is holding a public hearing about the foothills management plan on Wednesday, August 10, 2011at Centerville City Hall.  Be sure to show up and voice your opinion to the Planning Commission and City Council.  I will be attending if you'd like to discuss this issue with me further.