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PLEA
FOR CAUTION: Diane Andersen, Resident
January 17, 2007
County Officials:
This matter of a variance is an item on your agenda today, but your
decision could impact my life, my property and family for many years
to come.
Twenty plus years ago, a landslide manifest
itself above Standel Cove, soil /run-off water ran down the road.
Engineers and officials inspected the area, made specific recommendations,
and a slide siren warning system
was put in place. We were asked to attend a meeting, Standel Cove
residents and Sunnydale residents, for officials to Inform us of
their findings and convince all of us of the seriousness of the
problem and the potential of the problem. The warnings listed to
us by County officials were specific - a large amount of soil could
move, houses in the path of movement were at most risk immediately,
and that there was even the possibility of creating a dangerous;
unstable dam on the creek. We were told all of Standel Cove and
Sunnydale residents must leave immediately for safety if the siren
sounded. These are specifics given to us by County officials and
professionals. Thankfully the site appears to have stabilized but
the qsk is omnipresent. Hillside slopes are higher risk for slide
potential, as a sign at beginning of Emigration Canyon attests.
Recently we have had dry years but we may be In a "wet year"
pattern again.
Throughout the last two spring, summer and fall seasons, we have
seen significant, repeated problems along our Wasatch Front mountains
to homes that were allowed by County officials to be built on plots
of land that should not have been built on. We saw damage to specific
homes by hillside slides, or by the homes sliding, or by slides
due to drainage changes created because of building homes on too-steep
slopes above other homes. News reporters, and aIl of us that witnessed
these events that were catastrophic to these families, wonder why
permits were given for these homes to be built. These are real events
we have all witnessed with alarming frequency.
A government County council, or decision-making body, has rules
within which a decision should be made. These rules/guidelines,
when they concern safety of people and property, are made by professionals
and based on data gathered by professionals, and also based on past
disasters so that government officials can make responsible, informed
decisions and not make the same past mistakes.
lf compelling need for a change in rules or guidelines based on
County budgets, or for the good of a large group of people, or growth
needs (such as the current decision in Davis County redistricting
school boundaries),
government officials can revisit rules and guidelines, carefully
making decisions for the good of the largest group of people. There
is no compelling need to revisit the fundamental basic safety guidelines
in this case and granting the variance to allow a home to be built
on this questionable plot in favor of one individual will necessarily
put many people, their property and families, at much higher risk
because of the known slide potential.
The excavation for the building will be large, disturbing layers
of dirt on a slide risk slope that is against regulations for building
on. From the moment excavation begins, the risk will increase. Natural
rain drainage
patterns have been established over many years. From the moment
excavation begins, the rain drainage patterns will necessarily change,
creating immediate potential risk for homes below the construction
site. This drainage risk will continue for many years. Potential
for the soil below the construction site to slide will increase
dramatically because of tile depth and size of the excavation. Disturbing
these soil layers cannot be avoided during excavation. The presence
of a large home adding tons of weight to these disturbed layers,
built on a slope that is against established code in a slide risk
area can only increase the slide risk dramatically.
We live with the concem of earthquake, fire, wind, and water damage
along the Wasatch Front. None of us can do anything about natural
events that occur. The potential for slides by our homes is conceding
to us.
Once again, this potential for slides, small and large, even damming
the creek that, in a worst case, would pose serious threat to residents
in Salt Lake City, is not something in my Imagination. There are
risks County officials specifically listed to us as Standel Cove
and Sunnydale residents during the past event. You, as the governing
body can prevent dramatically increasing the slide risk to many
people, our home and families, by denying this variance. Giving
a variance on a piece of land in a known slide risk area when there
is no compelling reason for going against codes established by professionals,
would be irresponsible.
Respectfully,
Diane Andersen
Sunnydale Lane Resident
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