Avenues Community Council Holds Off on No Confidence Vote

Aug 07, 2008 by Jeff Robinson

(KCPW News) Optimism in Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker's administration led the Greater Avenues Community Council to postpone a vote of no confidence in the city's planning division on Wednesday night. Board member Michael Hughes says the community wants to give Becker more time to change the planning process.

"After our July 12th meeting, the mayor's office and Frank Gray told us some positive things, that they were aware of our issues and that they would take steps to address them, and we want to give them some time to do that," said Hughes.

The council will reconsider the vote of no confidence in two months. Hughes says council members are hopeful, but not entirely confident, that things will turn around in the meantime.

Hughes says planning issues are particularly important to the Avenues because residents who move there enjoy the character of the neighborhood.

"When projects are approved that change the character of the ordinances, then that character is lost forever, especially with the monster home situation," said Hughes. "It's changing into a Beverly Hills North. There's affordability issues and quality of life issues that will never be the same."

The council wants the mayor to take leadership by creating a standard procedure to ensure that neighbors are kept in the loop with projects in the neighborhood. Before becoming mayor, Becker represented the Avenues in the state legislature.

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