Ivins residents go standing-room only to raise their voice on city’s future

IVINS — The future of Ivins continued to be reshaped in a series of three community meetings this week, and it was standing room only. 

Ivins Mayor Chris Hart speaks to residents at Ivins City Hall during one of three community meetings concerning a new general plan for the city in the wake of a survey of residents, Ivins, Utah, Jan. 12, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

The three neighborhood meetings, held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights in the City Council chambers at Ivins City Hall, were a chance for residents to voice their comments in the wake of the recently released results of an unprecedented citywide survey. 

The survey itself is part of the ongoing effort of the city to rewrite its general plan – an effort that has been ongoing for nearly a year

On the first night of meetings, meant to be separated by residents of different areas of Ivins, Mayor Chris Hart said he was amazed by the results, which found residents more in favor of lower-density development and not so eager for more resorts and short-term rentals. 

“I’m a changed man after reading the survey,” Hart told the group gathered Tuesday, taking note of one resident comment in particular sent in one survey. “One comment that struck me: ‘I love Ivins City,  please keep it the way it is.’ Someone would have to be deaf and blind not to recognize what that means.”

On the last night of the meetings, one might have said it seemed like the entire city was there. Even with extra chairs, the council chambers were standing room only. With nowhere else to sit, some listened in the entryway of City Hall just outside the chambers.

Unlike the typical stereotype of “not-in-my-backyard” angry residents, those gathered listened quietly as residents, the mayor and other city officials including council members spoke congenially and in turn. There was not a moment seen where one person interrupted another. 

Ivins residents and city leaders gather at Ivins City Hall for one of three community meetings concerning a new general plan for the city in the wake of a survey of residents, Ivins, Utah, Jan. 12, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

And while serious issues were dealt with, there were also jokes and laughter, including by the mayor. 

When fielding a question on Thursday night as to why the city doesn’t go after those in violation of the city’s short-term rental ordinance, which only allows vacation rentals in designated zones and not in residential zones, Hart used pickleball to make a point.

“It costs a lot to prosecute,” Hart said. “We can go after them and add it to the budget and then not have enough to build more pickleball courts.”

Among other topics brought up by residents included stopping people from selling their land to a buyer intending to build a big development (“There’s nothing we can do if a farmer wants to sell to a developer,” Hart said), to moving overhead power lines on Old Dixie Highway 91 underground (“Strictly money,” Hart said) to controlling the bamboo growth in some areas (“Would be like trying to drive out the goats,” Hart said).

One of the immediate results of the meetings was a decision to have more meetings. Hart said the city will hold a monthly community meeting on the formulation on then general plan until it’s done. 

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