The Heber City Council met on Tuesday to discuss ongoing projects.
The council received a presentation on the North Village Overlay Zone project which is in the early planning stages. The project would include mixed use of residential and commercial development. But the council has to factor in things like affordable housing and density issues.
Councilwoman Rachel Kahler said Heber City now requires 10% of any new development to be designated for affordable housing. She said it’s also important to consider open space preservation when making final decisions.
“That is the biggest thing for the valley is, how do we preserve this beautiful green open space that you see as you come down Highway 40?” Kahler asked.
After significant public outreach, Kahler said the city is considering keeping land in the north field (of the the North Village Overlay Zone) open for things like trail access and meeting areas.
She also said one of the ways the council addresses open space concerns is through a conservation fee, which creates funds so the city can later purchase development rights or property.
The council discussed another housing project at the Rocky Mountain Garden. The proposed plan would put a second floor on the abandoned building allowing for an additional 26-30 apartments.
“This was interesting to me, because we do have a need for affordable housing, we do have a need to utilize that space better in our community,” she said.
Kahler said parking will be the biggest issue when the council considers the plan.
The council approved an agenda item with a list of capital improvement projects that would qualify for government grants. Kahler said the most important project on the list is a road that travels from Highway 40 from the north end of the city, east through the cemetery and lands back on Center Street.
“So what it will do is take a lot of that traffic that's coming from Lake Creek and Center Creek area ... the Red Ledges area... off of our city core and wrap it around,” according to Kahler.
She said in the next city council meeting they will discuss an update to the Heber City Cemetery.
“This is an opportunity for Heber City to really determine what the next 200 years look like in the cemetery,” she said. “We already have the property. It's an opportunity to build out what we already have. We have a beautiful cemetery.”
Kahler said the update would consider more crematoriums and private estate lots.
The next city council meeting is October 20.
