Utah State Senator Sheldon Killpack of Syracuse is up to something fishy. Since us Farmington residents live so close to the Great Salt Lake we are experts at detecting fishy smells. However this smell is coming from the Capitol this time. Senator Killpack who would love to see the Legacy Parkway Connector paved right through the heart of west Farmington is sponsoring a Senate bill to change transportation corridor preservation rules. The bill is SB208. You can read the text of the bill here: http://le.utah.gov/~2008/bills/sbillint/sb0208.htm

So why does this bill seem to smell so bad especially for Farmington residents? If this bill is passed it would let UDOT immediately start condemning land for the Legacy Connector. All UDOT would have to do to get the green light on eminent domain power is designate a "preferred alternative" route by a feasibility study and notify a municipality of is chosen route. Well UDOT has already done this with the Legacy Connector. The funny thing is UDOT doesn't plan on building the Connector road for another 15-30 years if at all. Yet this bill lets UDOT use eminent domain powers now even if they never actually build the road. Did you get that? UDOT can take away land now for a road that may never get built. UDOT can take land regardless of what the public has to say about it and they can take land even if a City Council doesn't agree with where UDOT wants to plunk down a road.

What does this bill change? Currently for UDOT to get eminent domain powers they have to actually be in the process of getting a road built. This means they have to do the appropriate studies like Environmental Assessment (EA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). These studies include public input and a whole host of real work not found in the half baked puny feasibility study. These Environmental studies happen just a few year prior to construction, not decades prior like a feasibility study.

The Farmington City Council last September told UDOT that UDOT's preferred route for the Legacy Connector is unacceptable and thus would not include it in the City's master transportation plan. UDOT responded by saying they would stick with their option 3 route regardless and start buying land from "willing sellers" if and when funds were available. This bill now ups the ante and would let UDOT condemn citizen's land right away regardless if sellers were "willing".

Please let our officials know this bill really stinks. For Senator Killpack's contact information and other official's contact information you can refer to this page: http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/contact-elected-officials

If any of this information is incorrect or you have more information to share please leave a comment or use the contact form.