The impact fees that the city receives for new residences are not allowed to be used for past projects. They must be used for future projects that would impact those new families moving in; not take care of old problems that existed before they moved in.
Supporting retail development is the best way to generate sustainable and ongoing money for the city. Money earned from sales tax would be used in a general fund that could certainly be used to pay for the sewer project. There is a large parcel on the highway near the high school that is zoned for commercial use. Why not focus on bringing in a grocery store and other retail shops? There is a lot of new high density housing in Nibley. Those people could certainly use a grocery store near home.
The Millville elementary school is already near max capacity. Once the new schools are built and the boundaries are changed it will be at 75% capacity. It is a smaller building and will fill up more quickly than other schools.
The new sewer system has not even been tested yet. There are already 80 more homes going in on the east bench and then add 80 more from the South Fields. Can the sewer system really handle all of these homes?
Water is a precious and critical resource. This summer Millville was classed as being in “severe drought” conditions. This is a desert. We must be very careful and consider the impact on our water resources with this many new households.
If the annexed land requires 2 acre lots that would be an additional 20 homes added to the south fields, so around 40 more cars.
If the lots are allowed to be only ⅓ acre that would be 80 or more homes which would be an additional 160 cars or more. We have many pedestrians and cyclists that enjoy walking to the coyote farm everyday.
Development should be anywhere that doesn't impact agriculture, areas where existing roads can accommodate the traffic, like several fields south of the high school on 450 north. Housing makes sense there because the roads are already in place for the traffic. Nothing is in place for the south fields. The South Fields are one of the few nature preserves left in Millville. Why not keep it country out there and allow people to continue recreating and enjoying nature. Once it is lost we will never get it back.
We all share the water resources, and this could lead to more water restrictions, more crowded schools, more traffic on the roads, and higher property taxes.