Slip-sliding away
There are no comments for this page [ Add Comment ]Thursday, October 11, 2007
When you take a moment to ponder this, it really is surprising: People have complained for the past decade about residential developments on hillsides that give way -- slide, sink, etc. -- after the homes are built, but there hasn't been much of an organized effort to find a solution. Most cities and counties have simply proceeded to do things pretty much as they have always done them, using methods that have proven inadequate.
Finally, and thankfully, that's changing. Gov. Huntsman, in 2006, assembled the Geologic Hazards Working Group to study the issue and make recommendations to help local planning commissions judge whether or not a given piece of sloping real estate was suitable for building. The group -- so far made up of representatives from various state, county and local governments, but set to include developers as its work goes forward -- has just issued a list of recommendations that Huntsman has accepted.
As noted recently by Standard-Examiner reporter Bryon Saxton, the group says local governments need more education on liability, updated maps and expertise regarding potential geological hazards. They also need to strictly enforce codes pertaining to land grades.
This is just a start, though. Huntsman has decided to keep the Geologic Hazards Working Group together to discuss further reform concerning issues like disclosure. To wit: When a property owner sells a parcel of land that has been judged to be at-risk, what's the responsibility to inform the buyer?
Currently, it's a buyer-beware world out there. That's even true when it comes to selling a house on land that may be at-risk.
The morality of disclosing such facts to buyers is pretty clear: It's something an honest person does. But morality and the law aren't always in synch.
It will be interesting to see how the Geologic Hazards Working Group tackles that one.
This isn't some esoteric exercise. Families have lost homes in Layton (on Sunset Drive in 1998, and on Heather Drive in 2001), Morgan County (in Mountain Green in 2006) and South Weber (in 2006). As Layton Community and Economic Development Director Scott Carter has said on more than one occasion, it's no fun telling people their home has been condemned and they have to leave it because the earth underneath is sliding.
This kind of response to the problem of slipping real estate is overdue, but we're happy it's finally being undertaken.
As pressure continues to build more homes in desireable locations -- lots with a view, primarily -- this issue will be relevant for many years to come.
It's good to know that state, counties and local governments will have more opportunity to guide safer developments.
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