Morning Eagle Mountain. Colten here.

How many of you are going to ShopFest this Saturday? If you are, please look for my booth. I would love to meet you!

Also, how many of you are business owners that would be willing to donate for a raffle at my booth? I’m not looking for anything too crazy. I just love the idea of being able to give people prizes because it’s fun, while also supporting local businesses. Some of the things I was planning on doing fell through, so I’m moving to plan B. No pressure! But it never hurts to ask, right?

Let’s see what’s happened this week and what’s going on this weekend.

Do you find these newsletters useful? No obligation, I'll keep writing every issue either way, but I have a Venmo (@eaglemountainvalue) if you'd like to help support the work. Really appreciate it.

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Own a local business or have an event coming up? Reply to this email or reach out at [email protected]. I'm always looking for things to share.

On Tuesday, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve the city's water and sewer plans. The commission's vote was only a recommendation, not a final decision. The City Council will make the final call, though the city has not announced when it will consider the plans.

The plans lay out the water and sewer projects the city expects to need over the next several years, along with their estimated costs. The sewer plan includes a $188 million expansion of the city's wastewater-treatment plant.

Both plans had public hearings Tuesday, but no one spoke in person or submitted comments online.

One commissioner raised a basic question: What if Eagle Mountain grows more slowly than the city expects? When new homes are built, developers pay one-time impact fees to help cover the cost of added water and sewer systems. If fewer homes are built, the city collects less of that money.

City Engineer Vince Hogge said those fees are meant to keep existing residents from paying for infrastructure required by new growth. But he said the city's biggest projects are paid for with borrowed money, and the city pays that money back mostly out of monthly water and sewer bills rather than impact fees.

Earlier this year, the city authorized borrowing up to $220 million for water and sewer work. The city has not said what that means for your bill. When I know more, I'll pass it along.

You can read both plans in the meeting packet.

Cedar Pass Ranch is a roughly 1,070-acre neighborhood of large lots in northern Eagle Mountain, just south of SR-73. It became part of the city in 1996, but city staff say they cannot find a record showing that the neighborhood was ever assigned a city zoning designation.

A zoning designation sets the basic rules for a property, such as what types of buildings are allowed, how large lots must be, and what changes require city approval. Without one assigned to Cedar Pass Ranch, city staff say the city cannot enforce zoning rules there when residents raise concerns about a neighbor's property.

Susan Morandi, a resident helping draft a new zone for the neighborhood, said code-enforcement officers told residents they would not act on complaints there because "we have no zoning." Senior Planner Robert Hobbs said the city takes the same view.

Residents worked with city staff to write a proposed zone specifically for Cedar Pass Ranch. The Planning Commission discussed the draft Tuesday but did not take a vote.

The draft would put rules in place that the neighborhood does not have now. New lots would have to be at least five acres, and existing lots could not be split. Buildings would have to sit at least 50 feet back from property lines, and there would be limits on how tall they can be and how large outbuildings can get. Outdoor lighting would have to point down so it does not wash out the night sky.

If your lot is already smaller than five acres, nothing happens to it. You keep it as it is, and you do not have to do anything. The one change is that adding on to a building would need the city to approve the plans first.

None of this is decided yet. Before it can be, the city has to hold a public hearing where residents can speak. Hobbs expects that around October, though nothing has been scheduled. You can read the staff report in the same meeting packet.

Sam Peinado is an Eagle Mountain resident who takes photos around town. Here are a couple more gems of Sam’s that I want to show you:

This isn't Sam's full-time job, but he loves photography. If you own a business that needs some photography work, then check out his work here or message him directly.

The 9/11 Day of Service is Friday, September 11. It starts with a flag ceremony for first responders at 7:00 a.m. at Cedar Valley High School, and anyone can come. The Hero Parade lines up at 9:00 and rolls out at 9:15, driving past eleven schools. The route map on the event page shows where it goes, so you can find a spot to watch.

The Days of Service projects run Tuesday, September 15 through Thursday, September 17, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day. The city is asking people to spend some of that time helping out. Projects get posted on JustServe. Look through what is there and pick one.

Eagle Mountain Academy starts Wednesday, September 16. Six classes on how the city works, at different spots around town. You apply rather than just sign up, so a spot is not guaranteed. The city asks you to plan on making at least five of the six classes. Check the requirements here.

Snapology registration closes Wednesday, September 16 at 11:45 p.m. It's an after-school robotics and coding club for grades 1 through 6, Thursdays September 17 through October 29, $98. After that it's closed for the fall.

The library is collecting toys and gifts for neighbors in need. New and unwrapped, for local kids and teens who might not have much else waiting for them this holiday season. You can drop something off any time between now and Saturday, December 12, at 1650 East Stagecoach Run. The library is open Monday through Thursday 10 to 8, Friday 10 to 6, and Saturday 10 to 2. Call 801-789-6623 with questions.

Halloween Town vendor registration is open. Booths are free at the city's biggest trick-or-treat event, Saturday, October 17 at Cory B. Wride Memorial Park. It's promotional only, so no selling, and you bring your own tent, table and candy. The city has not said when registration closes. Register here.

EM30 Challenge. The city turns 30 on December 3, and it wants residents to mark it by picking some kind of exercise built around the number 30. Walk, run, bike or hike 30 miles in Eagle Mountain. Hike 30 different trails. Get outside for 30 minutes a day. Take photos as you go, then send one in with a short description when you finish. You get an EM30 sticker and an entry in a December drawing for anniversary prizes.

Thursday, September 10

Friday, September 11

Saturday, September 12

Tuesday, September 15

Thursday, September 10 through Saturday, September 12

Friday, September 11

Monday, September 14

Tuesday, September 15

Wednesday, September 16

Thursday, September 17

Friday, September 18

Saturday, September 19

Hope to see you at ShopFest!

See you around,

— Colten

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