WOODS CROSS --The decision to amend the city's general plan allowing Sinclair Oil to build two new storage tanks was seemingly made in the blink of an eye Tuesday night.

That is, if you don't count the meetings in which the idea was repeatedly hotly debated.

By a vote of 3-2 the Woods Cross City Council decided to amend the general plan to designate 7.6 acres at about 1000 West 2600 South for heavy industrial use.

Council members Tamra Dayley and Jennifer Decker opposed the amendment, as they have since the idea was proposed.

Some wording in the resolution was also amended before it was voted on. Dayley said wording which stated the change was in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of the community, "is of dire concern to me, because it's not in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare." She proposed taking that paragraph out.

But council member Don Moore suggested that the paragraph should read that it's in the best interest of the public, taking out health, safety and welfare, "because it looks like we're doing something wrong if we remove the whole paragraph."

Decker, who is an attorney, agreed that part of the paragraph needed to stay in. She still opposed the change in the general plan, though.

That change opens the door for Sinclair to proceed with plans to build two jet-fuel holding tanks on the Pioneer Pipeline facility it owns with Conoco. The tanks will hold fuel which will be shipped, via truck, to Hill Air Force Base and via pipeline to the Salt Lake International Airport.

However, changing the general plan is just the first step in the project. Sinclair must still present plans for the tanks and loading dock approval before anything is built.

Each council member has struggled with the decision to amend the general plan.

Seventeen years ago, Woods Cross changed its general plan to limit heavy industrial businesses for health considerations and to rid the city of its image as a city of nothing but industry.

Council members struggled with the possibility that allowing Sinclair to build two tanks would be setting a precedent for other nearby industries in the area to come in and ask for exemptions to the general plan.

But some, like council member Rick Earnshaw didn't see it as setting a precedent, and in an earlier meeting pointed out the limited use of that land, being surrounded by heavy industry. Most of the facility is in North Salt Lake.

The plan will require Sinclair to route trucks being filled from the tanks to go west to Redwood Road, then get on I-215 and head back north to I-15, and on to Hill Air Force Base where the jet fuel will be delivered. That will add about six miles to the route and 10-15 minutes to the truckers' timeline, but will avoid the already congested 2600 South freeway entrance.

Sinclair will also be required to landscape the area.

mwilliams@davisclipper.com