For Immediate Release (June 21, 2006)

SMART GROWTH OGDEN ADOPTS POSITION ON PETERSON PROPOSAL/GONDOLA PLAN - APPROVED ON MONDAY, JUNE 19, 2006.

Smart Growth Ogden was organized in September 2005, by a diverse group of residents who care about Ogden and want to improve our city. Now our supporters number in the hundreds. We are committed to maintaining our city's uniqueness as well as enhancing it with well-planned, innovative growth. We believe that maximizing positive growth requires open, constructive dialogue with the public and educated decisions by our leaders. We believe that together, we can envision a bright future for Ogden and make it happen.

Smart Growth Ogden reaffirms its support for economic development, especially in downtown Ogden, guided by the city's General Plan which was produced with extensive citizen input. We are encouraged by the success of many recent projects and improvements downtown and elsewhere, as well as by upcoming improvements such as the FrontRunner commuter rail system. We reaffirm our support for investment in a more robust, rider-friendly transit system within Ogden, as recommended by the Ogden Transit Corridor Study.

Smart Growth Ogden has, to date, taken no specific position on what is commonly known as "the Peterson proposal" or "the gondola plan," as first presented to the public in April, 2006. Instead, Smart Growth Ogden has attempted to motivate our community to "Ask Questions" and "Get Involved." Now, however, it appears that the Ogden City administration is drafting a development agreement with Mr. Peterson, and is initiating a process of amending Ogden's General Plan to accommodate Mr. Peterson's proposal. The administration has also spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to help develop and advertise the proposal. Promotional materials from the administration have made numerous claims about the project and its benefits, yet neither the Planning Commission, the City Council, nor the public has been provided with the basic facts or documentation that would be needed to substantiate many of these claims. For example, Mayor Godfrey has not yet answered any of the 22 questions submitted to him by Smart Growth Ogden this past 17th of May. In light of these actions by the administration, Smart Growth Ogden is now forced to take a position on this matter.

Smart Growth Ogden supports the right of private land owners to develop their property in accord with applicable laws and ordinances. However, because the vague and general proposal made by Mr. Peterson and supported by Mayor Godfrey is based on numerous speculations that are unsupported by any publicly available feasibility studies, we are at this point opposed to the expenditure of city funds or other resources to further develop or promote this proposal. At this time we also oppose any form of endorsement of the proposal by the City Council, as well as the initiation of a process of amending Ogden's General Plan to accommodate the proposal. If and when the proposal becomes sufficiently specific to allow informed discussion, and Mr. Peterson produces the necessary geologic, engineering, and economic feasibility studies to support the proposal, then Smart Growth Ogden will re-examine its position in light of this pertinent information. Smart Growth Ogden's ultimate goal is a fact-based evaluation of this very important proposal.