Editor:

Last Tuesday evening the Bountiful City Planning Commission passed along a recommendation to the Bountiful City Council that the little brick home just east of Common Cents be rezoned to heavy commercial in a narrow 3-2 vote. I was disappointed to find myself the only person present to speak in the public hearing against the proposed rezoning. The home is scheduled to be razed to make way for a new parking lot and driveway to serve a planned car wash. I was further disheartened to hear that developers have plans to request the rezoning of five more homes on that portion of 400 North in the near future.

The reasons given during the discussion that evening included the idea that these homes are 'cut off' from the rest of the neighborhood, are not "desirable residential" because of the traffic volume on 400 North and would be better fit for commercial use. I worry that these conditions could apply not only to the west end of 400 North, but to much of its length. Could 400 North become the next 500 South eyesore?

I worry also that we have resumed our practice of rezoning, parcel-by-parcel, without the benefits of following any master plan. This method of shaping our city's future could be likened to amputating a limb, half an inch at a time, with no idea what the resulting procedure should end up looking like.

I feel it is not moral to slowly diminish the value and suitability of neighboring properties, and the quality of life enjoyed by these residents, by allowing this creep to continue. The problem is I can do nothing about this problem alone. Bountiful residents must make their voices heard. Tonight the city council will take public comment on the proposed rezone. I would encourage anyone concerned with these issues to make yourself heard!

Richard Higginson

Bountiful City Council