Salt Lake City residents now face restricted construction and ground disturbance requirements within 100 ft of creek banks, according to a recent city council decision. In light of increasing stream pollution in this mountainous area, the council voted 6 to 1 to approve the regulation.
The ordinance outlines new building limits within 100, 50 and 25 ft, and they become more restrictive the closer they come to water bodies. The construction of new decks, steps, sheds and the like may be prohibited; they will at least require a permit.
Approximately 2,000 property owners along Red Butte, Emigration, Parleys and City creeks may be affected. Many residents have argued against the new ordinance. "I don't need an ordinance to convince me of the prudence of erosion control," said one creekside resident. Others have called it an "attorney's dream" and compared it to a communist land grab.
Council Chairwoman Jill Remington Love said the capital had no stream protections on the books and that a six-month moratorium was set to expire, so the city had to act. "We're trying to find a fair balance between property rights and property protection," she said. "We're very sincere and very genuine that needs to be a holistic approach. This is just one piece of it."
The council has agreed to revisit the restrictions in six months, and residents will be invited to provide feedback at that time. In the meantime, Salt Lake City officials will retain a consultant and establish a subcommittee to study the riparian corridor.
Source: The Salt Lake Tribune
