THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE – The Draper City Council voted 4-1 last week to rezone 7½ acres in South Mountain from medium to high density residential despite a unanimous recommendation against the change from the city’s Planning Commission.

The new density designation (from three units per acre to up to 20 units per acre) for the parcel near 400 E. Vestry Road — known as South Mountain phase 2E2 in Draper planning maps — was part of a legal settlement reached in July between Salt Lake County, the South Mountain development firm and Draper.

The rezone “was a difficult decision because of the impact on the neighbors,” said Councilman Jeff Stenquist. “But there were benefits to the city: settling a potentially costly lawsuit and getting better open space with connecting trails.”

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TRIBUNE EDITORIAL – Draper is wisely considering putting some teeth into its geologic-hazards ordinance, not to bite developers but to help protect and educate home buyers while guarding the city against liability.

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SALT LAKE TRIBUNE – Developers scrambling to stake their claims for Draper’s million-dollar views are flocking to the city’s steep hilltops. But some City Council members, worried about growing concerns over landslides, are running to the books to rewrite the rules.

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