Ogden River Project

The Ogden River Project and the Ogden River Restoration Project, the first being run by the Neighborhor Development folks and the later by the Engineering and Public Ways & Parks. I'm not quite sure where one begins and the other lets off. Personally I have been working with a property owner in the River Project Development area that just so happens to own property in and along the Ogden River. Therfore this property owner has been requested to provide an easement for the River Restoration project without being monitarily compensated for the lost of use. This property owner has been confronted by no less than 5 different individuals from Ogden City requesting her to participate in the project. Falling all just short of saying that they would condem the land and take the part that was needed.

Now the River Development portion of this equasion. There are ordinances in the Planning and Zoning department that clearly define what should be done in this project. The ordinace states that the property owner is responsible to fine a development plan along with a fee for each piece of property that is left vacant and have be come an attrative nuciense. The ordinace states that the the owner will obtain permits for the purpose of raising such structures. These permit are good for a period of six months, in which time the owner must file for another permit to extend.
At the last count I had there were 30 to 40 residences that currently lack an improvement plan and or permits. Believe you me these permits are not cheap.. I think the cost for the original 6 month permit is $500.00 per property, with a $500.00 renewal eack time an extention is granted. Lets just go back the last four years of the River Project..... 30 pieces of property a $1,000.00 per year= $30,000.00 per year x 4 years = $ 120,000.00, and counting... to me that no small change. I'm more concerned that these ordinances are not enforced equally and fairly across the board. They seem to be enforced only when it is comfortable for the Code Enforcement officer. There are also provisions for the city to raise the homes and recover thier expenses through the Yearly Tax notice. The first move that I would recomend is that we either enforce all ordinaces or we eliminate the ones that seem to not be enforcable.

We need to really finnish a project prior to starting new ones. Any good Developer will tell you, You as developer are the last one to see the profits, if you are one of the lucky ones, that if you don't get eaten in the process.

I would like to go on for ever but maybe thats another day and another policy statement........