HURRICANE – The Hurricane City Council Meeting Thursday night provided a glimpse of the city’s future growth with the approval of two subdivisions in locations where infrastructure for development has been in place for years.
The first subdivision, located at approximately 175 North and 3400 West, immediately west of Wal-Mart and north of Maverik, received approval to change its zoning from commercial to single family residential so the developer, Vincent Blackmore, and his group of investors, who will purchase the property from Dale Jones, can start building on its 59 lots.
The development has had the necessary infrastructure since 2007-2008. Blackmore said he would like to build quality, affordable homes with a starting price of $179,900. The new development will include a mix of single story and two story homes, and even some homes with basements. It will add to the community and be a viable product, Blackmore said.
The council’s discussion about the development included a public hearing with no comments from the general public.
The other subdivision the council approved, Bella Vita, is located at approximately 100 North to 600 North from 2000 West to Gould’s Wash, just northeast of Intermountain Healthcare’s Hurricane Valley Clinic. The city approved the 169-lot subdivision in 2010, and applicant Craig Hopkinson sought the city’s blessing once again and received it unanimously. The initial stage of the development, for which he has a builder under contract, will include 42 homes, he said.
Beautification Committee
The hottest topic during staff reports was a discussion about the vision for the city’s beautification committee. Councilman Darin Thomas, who is over beautification, and Mayor John Bramall, said he feels like the committee is currently going in the wrong direction, wanting to “flag” properties which are eyesores rather than really making the city more beautiful.
City Manager Clark Fawcett said the committee must take a more positive approach, such as finding projects city residents can get behind, applauding homeowners who keep their yards in good shape and improving city property’s aesthetic appeal. Fawcett said that while the city’s cleanup days inspire residents to action because dumpsters are close, some might as well go to the dump with the waste they have. Additionally, Fawcett said the city’s well-traveled State Street corridor should be the main focus of the committee’s efforts instead of worrying about far-flung properties most people never see.
Victim Services
Hurricane City Police Victims Service Advocate Tiffany Mower made a brief presentation to the council, similar to the one she gave the LaVerkin City Council two weeks ago. She emphasized the need for the program, which in its first year, 2009, assisted in 75 cases. Today there are approximately 400 cases per year, she said, and each case takes a minimum of eight hours. The part-time, grant-funded position helps victims of a range of crimes, from domestic violence to arson, with services such as placement in shelters, transportation to court appointments, and the establishment of protective orders. Mower said she receive calls at 1 and 2 a.m., answering them like any other phone call.
“The program gives victims options so they don’t feel like they have to say in the position they’re in,” she said.
Many victims feel embarrassed and feel the will be judged, Mower said. In fact, six out of 10 who refuse help at first call within 48 hours to say they really do need help.
Councilman Kevin Tervort touted the program’s effectiveness, saying he has heard from some people that if it weren’t for the program, they would not be alive today.
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