IVINS — The divide between affordable housing and residents not wanting to see high-density development nearby took center stage at the Ivins City Council meeting held Thursday night.

Bill Papanikolas, an Ivins resident for decades, asked the council to rezone his property at the corner of Old Dixie Highway 91 and 400 North from low-density, one-acre residential lots to allowing high-density townhomes. In the near future, the city is planning to build a roundabout at the same corner. 

Papanikolas and his representative said the intention of this rezoning is to create more affordable, or attainable, housing in Ivins. Ultimately, the council approved Papanikolas’ request in a 3-2 vote. However, during the public hearing, seven speakers rose to oppose the rezoning.

Resident Lisa Gans referred to Ivins’ older population as the reason she was opposing the zoning change and alluded to a report on pickleball made by the city’s department of parks and recreation earlier in the meeting. 

“I’m not opposed to growth but we need to look at our demographics and who we’re servicing today,” Gans said. “We need pickleball courts … this would be a great place to have pickleball courts.”

That comment drew noticeable applause from those in the Ivins City Hall chamber.  

At least three speakers referred to “escaping from California” to get away from high density, with one mentioning that there was no need for affordable housing as he was able to “work hard” to attain a house on his own.

“Congratulations on getting to these houses, but the reality is the demand for moderate-income housing is the biggest demand we have,” Mayor Chris Hart said in response.

The debate was similar to one the council had last November when it narrowly decided to scale back a developer’s request to change their placeholder low-density property to high-density. At that time, the council agreed to an in-between, medium density.

Since then, three council seats have changed. Council member Mike Scott, who wasn’t on the council last November, suggested a similar compromise. However, both council members and a representative for the developer noted that at 3 acres, their property – which sits two blocks from the one debated in November – is smaller than the 7-acre lot debated back then. 

Council member Jenny Johnson said affordable housing has to go somewhere, but added she concedes no matter where it goes will leave someone unhappy. 

“Wherever you put it, there’s going to be someone impacted. We don’t always get what we want and sometimes we have to make concessions,” Johnson said. “I wish my children could live here but they will never be able to because they can’t afford to.”

After nearly two hours of debate, as the council was about to vote, member Dennis Mehr said, “This is a tough one,” and put his head in his hands. 

Mehr ultimately joined Scott in voting against the rezoning, while Johnson and council members Adel Murphy and Lance Anderson voted to approve it, granting the developer’s request to change the plot’s zoning to allow for more homes.

‘Why am I here?’

After a more than four-month process, the council approved a new ordinance that will cover the installation of solar panels installed on the ground. The move will allow resident Suzy Appel to get a permit for panels on her property after previously applying in November.

The unanimous 5-0 vote came after Appel noted her anger with the council after she said she found out there were at least four other homes in the area that had been previously granted permits by the city to install panels despite there not being an ordinance.

Appel had attained the records after a Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) request.

“I’m trying not to take this personally, but why am I here?” Appel said.

Appel’s husband Dave also spoke to the council, mentioning that because of inflation the panels will now cost 40% more to install now than they would have if they initially had been approved in November. 

“I’d like to know who’s going to pay the additional cost,” Dave Appel said.

“I can tell you what happens to me every day,” said Anderson, who manages Kayenta Community Development Inc.,“I pay for it.”

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