Safety, health and long term welfare, what do these terms mean to the city of Lehi?

At a recent Lehi City Council Development Review Committee meeting, the following findings were published, play close attention to number 3.

FINDINGS

The Development Code does not identify specific findings that must be considered when approving a concept; however the

Planning Commission may wish to include the following findings in the motion:

1. The proposed Concept is consistent with the Lehi City Development Code

2. The proposed Concept conforms to the goals and policies of the General Plan.

3. The proposed Concept does not affect the health, safety, welfare, and morals of the City. 

In the Utah League of Cities and Towns Powers and Duties, a handbook for Utah Municipal Officials, page 121 under the Title, "Basic Legal Issues for Land Use Control" it states, "The purpose of this Chapter are to provide for the health, safety and welfare and to promote the prosperity, improve the morals, peace and good order, comfort, convenience and aesthetics of each municipality and its present and future inhabitants and businesses."

Chapter 28 of the Lehi resort community code, section 28.010 - Purpose and Intent, section D, it states "while protecting the health, safety and long term welfare of the community."

If you have been to a Lehi Planning Commission or City Council meeting you routinely hear them robotically recite the words, protect the health, safety and welfare, but what do these words mean? 

For their definition, let’s turn to Chapter 39 of the Lehi building code (definitions) and look for these three words.  First the word, health, sorry not there.  Then, the word, safety, again not there, wow, did you know there were two full pages describing Sexually-oriented businesses, but no definition for safety and lastly, what does the word welfare mean as defined by chapter 39?  What, I can't find it. 

Let’s ask those that recite these words on a regular basis what they mean to them. So if you are on the DRC, Lehi Planning Commission or City Council, feel free to comment on this blog post what you believe these words mean, thank you for responding.

The meaning, understanding and definition of these words for the long term welfare of the Lehi residents are important if not critical.  City administrators, employees, elected and appointed officials must tell us what these words mean to them personally and also define them in Chapter 39. 

Too often, I believe these words are recited without understanding there consequence to the residents of the City of Lehi.  Let me give you an obvious example where the safety of Lehi residents is put at risk almost on a daily basis.  For those of you who have had the opportunity to eat lunch at what I will call the outdoor food court in Thanksgiving Point, you all know how difficult it is to park. They have opened up parking across the street (North Thanksgiving Way) where Lone Peak Trailer's use to be.  Hundreds of people on a daily basis have to make their way across this incredibly business road putting their life at risk.  There is no cross walk or intersection; you literally have to dash across the road hoping not to get hit.  Everyone at City Hall knows what a debacle this is, so what are they going to do about it, I know build more restaurants in the area.  The second thing they are going to do is build a dozen or so more fast food restaurants east of I 15 to cut down on the number of people frequenting the open door fast food court, now that is a great solution.  The problem was created by allowing this many restaurants to congregate in one area without sufficient parking, now whose fault was that?  DRC, yes, Planning Commission, yes, possibly City Council, not quite sure, but probably yes.  So, is this a safety concern, yes it is. How are they going to correct the problem?  Ask DRC, the Planning commission and your City Council. There are problems like this all over the city.

Try driving from Thanksgiving Point golf course to the freeway at rush hour, this six block drive may take you as long as 20 + minutes and more than likely you will have to wait for 4 or 5 stoplights before you get to wait to get onto the freeway, where you will wait even longer.  Poor planning and they want to keep building more and more in the Thanksgiving Point area. The City blames the traffic snarl around this area on the State and says one day (many years from now) the problem will be addressed, hey, but, let’s keep building and adding more traffic and congestion.  Is this good for the welfare of the residents of Lehi?  Residents in the Thanksgiving Village subdivision talk about planning their heart attack so that they don't have to fight traffic at rush hour.  They know for sure, they will die before they get to the hospital, is this health related issue, of course it is.

There are countless traffic related issues in Lehi and the mantra continues to be at City Hall, there is no development project we don't like, bring it on, the more the merrier.  Long term welfare of its citizens being taken into consideration, I think not.

I recently ran for Lehi City Council and failed to make it on the November ballot.  However, I was able to speak with hundreds of Lehi residents who believe the City has some work to do in regards to... 

Traffic and road infrastructure, making sure and ensuring road infrastructure is ahead of growth and development not lagging behind as it is today

Massive growth and development while ignoring traffic patterns, road congestion and oppressive wait times at traffic lights

Insufficient water supplies and pressure in the pressurized irrigation system

Carbon emissions from increased traffic

Noise and light pollution and the loss of green space to commercial and residential development

The lack of parks and recreation facilities and programs for the residents of Lehi, both youth and adult.

The increase in traffic congestion especially around schools puts the lives of our children at risk.

These are but a few of the concerns of the residents of Lehi, there are countless others (I seriously could go on and on, not too many long term residents who are happy with what is happening in their city).  Many residents don't believe that the current city officials and administrators listen to them and believe they really don't care about them.  Many long term residents pine for the old days when Lehi was a small town and believe the current growth is not welcome.   

So when our those appointed, elected or who work for the city ensure us that the long term safety, health and welfare of the residents are protected, what do they really mean and how do we hold them accountable today and in the future for what will be continued traffic congestion, water regulations, unfettered growth and development without proper road infrastructure and mediocre park and recreation facilities and programs for our youth and adults.   

I believe these words have meaning and I believe they need to be defined by and placed in chapter 39 so we all know what they mean.

Lehi of old is dying, there is construction everywhere and before you know it we will be a city of over 100,000 people.  Time to define what you mean by safety, health and long term welfare of the residents of Lehi.

Maybe Lehi should consider a building moratorium like Highland.  They may need to step back and re-evaluate the sheer volume of building that is going on.  One last point.  During my run for Lehi City Council, I had an opportunity to speak with many of the department heads in City government and in each case they indicated that their departments where understaffed.  Things are falling through the cracks, codes are not being enforced and things are being overlooked.

Slow down!