The Issues...
WATER AND DROUGHT
Heber Valley continues to play a 'tug-of-war' with its water supply.
Its residents consistently question, “How can the water sustain this overwhelming growth?”.
-
Developments may have water shares but, water shares does not equate to “wet water” in an extensive drought situation. Both Jordanelle and Deer Creek reservoirs supply the Salt Lake and Provo Valleys respectively but, NOT Heber. Therefore, there needs to be a reassessment of how Heber City will be able to continue providing that “wet” water to its citizens. How do we keep the our most precious resource in the forefront of discussion when Development is at an all time high? Some thoughts include:
-
keep it 'real' when discussing new developments. Enforce ordinances in place that protect the water quality, storm water management and supply.
-
Storm water management must be treated by developers on sight in order to protect sensitive areas with high water tables that feed valley aquifers and Provo River. Consider adoption of New Storm water plan.
We need to be proactive in protecting our most valuable resource in a state that is the 2nd most driest in the Union.
OPEN SPACE
On the first page in the General Plan of the 2019 “ENVISION 2050” it states:
“…Heber City is located in a beautiful rural setting, but the growth that is being planned in areas beyond the community threatens the values that the residents hold dear. They value OPEN SPACE, the rural atmosphere and the small town feel…”
Heberites DO value the open land feel of our beautiful Mountain Valley…but, at the current rate of fast paced growth it is in danger of disappearing….FOREVER.
So what can be done to protect and preserve that “rural…small town feel”?
-
1st) acknowledge that high density growth is not beneficial for protecting that legacy. Growth needs to pay for itself.
-
less “concessions” for a handful of individuals at the expense of the many
-
Responsible growth can be achieved and still protect those who are landowners. Accountability benefits all in the end.
-
Continue preserving our open spaces through more parks, trails, etc...
-
And, finally, we can install beautiful parks, trail systems etc...HOWEVER, proper maintenance diminishes the value of those plans. Therefore, working with the P.O.S.T.T. committee, and providing proper support to the Parks and Rec. department is vital.
By preserving our OPEN SPACES we protect our rural legacy for future generations.
TRAFFIC:
​
I have lived in Heber for nearly 37 years. When we first moved to Heber it was an adjustment for me to get used to the deafening, QUIET…which created nights of insomnia. The unsettling silence was a far cry from the late night bustling sounds of traffic and sirens on 7th Ave. in Phoenix, Az where I grew up.
Of course I eventually settled into the quiet, peaceful nights that Heber offered all those years ago and as the years progressed I witnessed Heber’s first installation of a traffic light on Main. It was truly a “monumental” occasion, but the traffic was still manageable with only the occasional “fender bender”. Fast forward 40 years and those “bustling sounds of traffic and sirens…” of my desert hometown have returned and, oddly enough, I long for the deafening QUIET of rural 1985 Heber.
Wasatch County in the mid 90’s, talks of building a bypass was already in the works but, concerns that the bypass would pull away from local businesses on Main placed it on the back burner where it (unwisely) remained with very little discussion or forethought after that… an oversight that has created a seemingly unmanageable situation.
I know that the discussion of the bypass will not be an easy solution, but I truly feel that something needs to be done to reroute some of the traffic that has swallowed Main St. and made it difficult to access businesses facing it. If we are proactive and firm as a City Government we CAN have strong input on how to best make the bypass a positive and viable addition to the valley WITHOUT compromising our Open Spaces, displacing families or endangering our delicate Eco-system.
​
These are just a few of the many issues facing Heber City.
OTHERS INCLUDE: affordable housing, Downtown revitalization, Preservation of Heritage...
Please contact me if you would like to discuss these very important concerns...I'm here to listen.
