Part of the property along Highway 89 disconnected from Pleasant View City in 2004 was enticed back into the city with the prospect that property owners would be given enough property rights to enable development. Since that time the city passed a new zoning ordinance called the TOD Zone for a 24-acre portion on that area. In that new zone the city allowed mixed use (residential and commercial) because the old ordinances prohibiting that had proven over the years to be anti-business. However, in designing the new ordinance many more restrictions were added on top of the TOD regulations including another overlay ordinance, the Gate Way Ordinance.
The net effect of those ordinances has been to block at least two developers (names withheld to avoid retribution) who have seriously studied multimillion dollar investments in developing the area. The most recent developer indicated that he could not be confident enough of success to pay even the expenses required for the beginning process of obtaining permits. He indicated that the ordinances were so vague they gave the city officials the power to be arbitrary on too many issues.
The Boyer Corporation also bought interest in property located along Highway 89 and south of 2700 North, which was also part of the disconnected property. Boyer Corporation has also been unable to develop their parcel. It was reported that they were unable to negotiate with solid businesses to occupy the space because of the lack of rooftops – code for residential areas being too distant from the businesses.
Author’s note: The latent effect of previous zoning ordinances and the effect of present ordinances have had the consequence of stifling construction jobs as well as business operation jobs for the last eight years in Pleasant View. The City officials are saying the lack of jobs is not because of over regulation of private property, however they feel it necessary to use EDA and RDA schemes to bring in new businesses. EDA and RDA developments are accomplished by use of tax funds on projects considered too risky or to difficult in the private sector. Although Pleasant View is a notable example of this problem, the city officials are quick to point out that other cities are doing the same thing.
