I enjoyed the lighting of the city Christmas lights once again this year! The city crew and Mayor Adams do a good job preparing and conducting the event each year. And, of course, everyone who helped transform city hall into the North Pole for Santa's visit! I think close to 200 kids visited with The Jolly Old Elf! And we thank the fire department for escorting Santa into town and Mrs. Vail's great children's chorus!
Sunpro Store and Plant
If you've driven on Hwy 33 to the Hwy 20 interchange, you couldn't have missed the new Sunpro commercial building that is nearing completion. The millwork and truss buildings are also coming along. This facility has the potential to bring some good quality jobs into our city. I will also be glad to see the new street, 6th North, get completed with sidewalks and all. Our old dog can't go on long walks like she used to, but I think once 6th North is completed, I will enjoy having a new place to walk, and I might see if she is up to going with me at least once.
Property Development
Sugar City has a lot of housing and other building currently going on or being planned. I've discussed this growth with a number of my neighbors and fellow residents lately. It can be a challenge for a city to work with rapid growth (or slow growth for that matter) coming from property owners who wish to develop their land. Zoning and land use maps and tables, transportation plans, and the comprehensive plan are the best tools the city has to plan for and help guide the development for the benefit of current and future residents of the city.
Some of those I've spoken with are not happy about different types of development. Some want more single family homes on separate lots, some want more twin homes, but not townhomes or condos; some are not able to get traditional homes yet (or don't want them in any case), but would like apartments or tiny homes available in Sugar; some want more commercial areas, including additional shopping and dining and entertainment options; some don't want any of the above and would prefer to see Sugar stay as they have always enjoyed it.
I think growth will continue in our area specifically and Southeast Idaho generally, so unless everyone who currently owns property simply decides not to develop it or not to sell it to another owner who wants to develop it, then there's generally no ethical, legal, or practical way for a city to completely stop growth. If people want to live here (as most everyone who is already here generally does), someone else is going to develop housing to meet the demand.
Sometimes people get upset and, perhaps, get a bit carried away in their claims about how the city is in cahoots with developers and making "backroom deals" or being unduly or even illegally "influenced" by land owners. I've never been involved in any "backroom deals," and I've rarely even spoken directly to any land owners trying to develop their property. The few times I have spoken with any of them at length, it's been in public city council meetings or other similar public events. No one has ever offered to "buy my vote" or promised me any kind of benefit for voting a particular way on city council.
I share my neighbors concerns regarding any kind of "unchecked" city growth. I (and I believe the mayor and all the other members of the city council) try to consider all the same things our fellow residents of Sugar consider when it comes to making decisions regarding growth in the city; after all, we live here. I appreciate speaking with neighbors and friends in Sugar about these things. I invite all who are interested to stay up to date on any such issues that come before the planning and zoning commission and the city council. You have access to all of the same documents and public record information I have, and I appreciate your comments and questions as part of the planning and zoning and city council review processes.
We moved to Sugar in 2011, and have been happy to live here ever since. At times, over the years, I've felt like the guy who paid for his ticket and walked through the gates of Disneyland. He looked around at how many people were still waiting to come through the entrance behind him, and he demanded the gates be locked. Well, I understand that man's sentiment, for sure.
I hope everyone enjoys this holiday season. Let's all pray for some snow--as much as we need, if no more. And I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!