This week’s question from the Clipper springs from the ACLU’s concern that Farmington City is making an effort to avoid building affordable housing to keep out apartment renters and people with low incomes. The Clipper asks, “ Do cities have the right to restrict the types of homes being built in an effort to create or maintain a quality of life that its residents desire? Or are they obligated to create affordable housing so that younger and less affluent families can live there”

This is a difficult question to answer due to the fact that there are both pros and cons to both sides of this argument. After speaking to a local city council member I can see that a community truly benefits from developing a master plan that accommodates the realities and needs of that community.

Research does show that low income housing can and does increase crime in most situations. This means hiring more police officers and other increased costs.

Another aspect that Farmington residents might be concerned with is how will developing affordable housing (low income housing) affect their property values?

Let me admit here that I am in no way an expert on this topic. I have however lived in several different communities located on the Wasatch Front throughout my life and it’s from that experience that I am basing my opinions on.

It is my guess that most of the people who would utilize affordable housing in Farmington are those who are either tied to that community socially or economically. Many years ago while I was an administrator of a senior community I witnessed six seniors who had to leave that community during a three month period due to the ever-rising cost of their healthcare needs. Not only were these seniors my friends, but they were also hardworking middle-class Utahns who were losing, through no fault of their own, the American Dream. One of those residents took her own life because she didn’t want to burden her children economically. When I told this story to a co-worker to explain one of the key reasons I became involved in Utah politics he said, “so you’re involved because of social issues”, but I always felt that this is an economic issue that could affect any of us in the future. You may not realize it now, but affordable housing may just be a godsend for someone you love.

Something else I have learned from traveling the state and listening to local leaders is that communities like St. George and Park City have a real problem accommodating affordable housing for their labor pool. The big problem for the St. George area is how do we find teachers when we don’t have homes that they can afford?

There is also another aspect that Farmington residents should consider. Many of the people who move to Farmington do so because they like the fact that Farmington is a bedroom community. However, one of the biggest revenue producers for Farmington is Lagoon, an amusement park that is patronized by people of all economic situations. Does Farmington want to say, “You are welcome to spend here, but we really don’t want you living here.”

In closing I would have to admit that there is no easy solution, and that balance should be a key objective here. I also believe that God loves us all, and is it too much to ask that all of his children have a decent roof over their heads?

Merry Christmas! =