KAYSVILLE -- Just days after announcing its final three alternatives for the West Davis Corridor project, the Utah Department of Transportation already has some opposition.
The Kaysville City Council has made its concerns over the project public, issuing a letter to residents, urging them to comment to the state through as many means as possible.
The letter, drafted by Kaysville City Mayor Steve Hiatt, encourages residents to comment to the WDC study team in person, by e-mail, telephone, or online through the state's website.
The proposed WDC alignment through Kaysville is east of the city's power lines, which means homes will be affected if the state's current vision of the four-lane divided highway gets built.
Hiatt said Kaysville has been preserving the corridor west of the power lines since at least 2001 to adequately separate the highway from any homes.
"We're quite honestly a little fired up about the alignment," Hiatt said. "In 2001, the Wasatch Front Regional Council did a study that had the road going west of the power line corridor, and that alignment became Kaysville's growth boundary."
Hiatt said there are no homes west of the power lines, but that UDOT wants to avoid building in the area because of some potential environmental impacts to low-level wetlands.
"We understand UDOT is in a tough position, and we understand the concerns about the environment," Hiatt said. "But it's short-sighted to put more emphasis on the environmental impact than the social impact. Especially when you are talking about destroying a neighborhood."
Hiatt also questioned whether the land should even be considered wetlands.
Kaysville resident Kevin Swallow, who lives in the View Crest Lane neighborhood that would be affected, said he's lived in his home for only about five years and doesn't want to leave.
"We're going to do whatever it takes to stop this," Swallow said. "We are circulating a petition right now, and we're looking at some legal resources as well."
West Haven is also concerned with the remaining possible alignments.
"One of the alignments cuts diagonally right through our city," said West Haven Mayor Brian Melaney. "We don't want a 250-foot road right through our city."
The mayor said his residents feel the same way.
"I believe there will be a massive showing of nonsupport (by West Haven residents)," Melaney said.
The final three possible roadway routes all run west of Interstate 15 from 12th Street in Ogden to Parrish Lane in Centerville -- an area in which UDOT expects the population to grow by 75 percent between now and 2040.
The three alternatives can be viewed in detail at the project's website, www.udot.utah.gov/westdavis.
The road will cost anywhere from $400 million to $525 million.
Depending on the option that is advanced, there will be 98, 123 or 137 residential acquisitions as part of the project.
Randy Jeffries, WDC project manager, said the state is doing its best to "balance and minimize" the impacts that will come with the project.
The project team will hold three public open houses on the alternatives, all from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The first will be tonight at West Point City Hall, 3200 W. 300 North.
The second will be Wednesday at Legacy Events Center, 151 S. 1100 West, Farmington.
A third open house will be Thursday at West Haven Elementary School, 4385 S. 3900 West.
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