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Midvale Journal

This land is our land: Midvale, Murray agree to annex land

Feb 27, 2017 01:27PM ● By Travis Barton

Land located at approximately 6604 – 6654 S. 700 W. will potentially be annexed from Murray to Midvale. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

By Travis Barton | [email protected]
 
Midvale City Council unanimously approved a resolution indicating the city’s intent to adjust its boundary line with Murray City at approximately 6604 – 6654 S. 700 W.—just north of Bingham Junction—that will annex the land into Midvale’s boundaries. Both Midvale and Murray City Councils approved the resolution on Feb. 7.
 
This decision came about as Garbett Homes—which is in the process of purchasing the properties to build around 94 to 139 single-family homes—found that Murray City’s sewer lines would have difficulty connecting to the proposed development.
 
Murray suggested the lines be connected to Midvale’s utilities, but Midvale city officials declined that option feeling it wasn’t in the best interests of their residents. This led to the proposition of adjusting boundary lines to include the development in Midvale and connect to the city’s utilities.
 
“We were attracted to this because it is more single-family (homes) which we think kind of balances out the situation with the amount of apartments we have in the Bingham Junction development,” said City Manager Kane Loader during the city council meeting.
 
Loader added the staff feels comfortable that the city has the water capacity and ability to provide storm drains for this to happen. Midvale has an existing station in the nearby Riverwalk area that will handle services for the homes.
 
“To me this is a no-brainer,” said councilman Paul Glover. “We have all our citizens come in and want us to have single-family homes, it’s like, ‘okay let’s have single-family homes instead of more apartments.”
 
Councilman Stephen Brown agreed.
 
“In Midvale it’s, ‘let’s build more single-family homes.’ Our common response is ‘where?’ There’s just not space,” Brown said. “[This] gives us more space which is already going to be allocated to single-family homes…I think it’s kind of a win-win for us.”
 
Councilman Wayne Sharp said he doesn’t oppose the annexation, but was concerned about the impact it will have on the city and ensuring it will be single-family homes built on the properties.
 
“We’re looking at basically a land use issue, taking more land into our community, is there any assurance in this,” Sharp said.
 
Assistant City Manager Phillip Hill said they’ve had those exact discussions with Garbett and Murray.
 
“We’ve stated that as we go through this process, we will memorialize the fact that this project stays what [Garbett Homes] says it will be today,” Hill said.
 
This isn’t the first time Midvale’s adjusted their boundaries before. Loader said the city adjusted its boundaries in 2001 with Sandy and Murray.
 
With the resolution approved, a public hearing on the matter will be held at 7 p.m. on April 18 at City Hall.
 
In order for this to be officially recorded by the state by July 1, the matter will need to be placed on the lieutenant governor’s desk by April 30.
 
Another item from the Feb. 7 city council meeting:
 
The city council voted to enter an agreement with VanCon Inc. for the construction of a metering station near 7600 S. 700 E.
 
Eastern portions of Midvale receive water from Sandy City which, City Engineer Keith Ludwig said, has caused water pressure issues for both cities with the plan to have water supplied by Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District (JVWCD) instead. Ludwig said this is the first phase of that transition.
 
“We would like to move this project forward as fast as we can, we’d like to have this meter station up and operational prior to the high demand summer season,” Ludwig told the city council.
 
Ludwig added this should take care of any water issues taking place around 1000 East as water will be more available to that area.
 
Ludwig said he hopes by the end of spring 2018, they should be totally disconnected from Sandy and supplied by JVWCD.