The Truth About Growth

Many Citizens are concerned about growth in Eagle Mountain. "Managed Growth," "Responsible Growth" or "Smart Growth" are hot button phrases that sound good - how can one be against "responsible" growth -- but have different meanings to different people. Some believe "managed" or "responsible" growth means no growth at all, or only growth that suits their taste. "Smart Growth" is a term of art used by land use regulators and implies a particular ideology that mandates small homes on small lots with large undeveloped "open spaces." Some cannot or will not recognize all of the implications of growth as it pertains to Eagle Mountain. There are many misconceptions about growth in our city, certain of these misconceptions are intentionally perpetuated by parties who stand to gain financially or politically by a misinformed public.

A common sense approach to "managed" or "responsible" growth is simply not to allow growth to overwhelm essential city services. This definition does not arbitrarily retard the growth rate. It simply requires that city services, like law enforcement protection for our homes and families, fire department/ paramedic protection for emergency response, sewer and water systems, and transportation infrastructure meet the pace of growth no matter how fast it naturally occurs. Such an approach is very workable but it will only happen with leadership from clear thinking, responsible individuals, not head in the sand reactionaries.

In Eagle Mountain the benefits of growth, and rapid growth at that, are not only desirable they are vital. For example, we all want lower utility rates. From the beginning, the city's utility debt has been structured to anticipate growth. The amounts of scheduled payments on the utility debt are locked in. With no growth, the amount required from each household to pay on the debt remains high. But with growth, each household bears a smaller part of the debt burden in their utility payment.

Growth also accelerates completion of amenities including parks and recreational facilities. Growth attracts commercial development. Grocery stores, restaurants, theaters, big box retail, professional services, etc., all locate where population levels will support business. Slowing growth delays the day when those services will come to Eagle Mountain. Growth also expands and diversifies the tax base reducing the tax burden on residents.

There is a pervasive myth in Eagle Mountain that growth somehow decreases property values. Nothing could be further from the truth. Closer commercial services increase property values. Closer schools (tied to population growth) increases values. A vibrant, expanding, and diverse community increases values. On the contrary, a stagnant community with no growth drives down property values, and causes residential flight. Residential property values across the state have suffered; it is folly to attribute the manifestation of that statewide trend in Eagle Mountain to growth.

There are undoubtedly some things that can be done to improve the quality of growth in Eagle Mountain. Primarily, the development code can be improved. There are many legitimate complaints about past development in Eagle Mountain that can be addresses with provisions requiring adequate transition and buffering, open space that is more accessible and useable, and increased amenity requirements for increased density awards. At the same time the code should allow greater flexibility to encourage innovation and efficiency that maximize the quality and value of homes constructed in Eagle Mountain. A streamlined code would also help by enabling the homebuyer to pay for more home, and less bureaucracy, in the final purchase price. These improvements in the code are long overdue.

Growth will be the topic of great debate in the upcoming elections in Eagle Mountain, as well it should be. The city is ill served by the Chicken Littles who blame and fear growth. With the right leadership, Eagle Mountain can ride the engine of growth to a prosperous and well-managed future.