Call it a win for the little guy.
After being compared to 12-year-old boys and being specifically targeted by legislation that could still strip them of certain powers, the town of Vineyard appears to have retained control of a proposed redevelopment agency for the old Geneva Steel property.
Executives of property owner Anderson Development had approached the Utah County Commission months ago to manage the RDA after getting legislation passed this year that would allow them to bypass the tiny town in favor of the county. The company argued Vineyard wasn't equipped to handle the 1,800-acre project. It's viewed by many as a critical nexus because of its potential as a transportation, commercial and residential hub. An RDA would allow the company to pay fewer taxes as long as the money went into property improvements.
"The RDA is now going to be handled through Vineyard town," Mayor Randy Farnworth said on Wednesday. "Historically, that's where an RDA has always been."
He said that after Anderson's request to the county, the two sides met and hammered out a deal. The key, he said, was that one way or the other the company would have to deal with Vineyard because the town has control of planning and zoning.
A message left with Anderson Development on Wednesday afternoon seeking comment wasn't returned.
Farnworth said that the next step is to come up with a preliminary budget for the RDA. It's at that point that the county could still play a part in the process.
Once the costs for pollution cleanup, infrastructure and more are laid out, county officials are expected to consider offering some expertise. The town has contracted with Salt Lake City firm Lewis Young Robertson & Burningham for help in managing the RDA.
"We're trying to get it in by the first of January," Farnworth said.
Posted in Local, Vineyard on Thursday, October 1, 2009 12:15 am Updated: 1:38 pm. | Tags: Vineyard
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