Ivins OKs storm water rate increase, budget, Rocky Vista height exception

Artist's rendering of student housing planned for Rocky Vista University in Ivins, Utah | Image courtesy of Ivins City

IVINS – The Ivins City Council Thursday discussed a tentative budget, raised storm water rates and approved a height exception for buildings at Rocky Vista University.

The Ivins City Council reviewed concept and sit plans for Rocky Vista University at a council meeting Thursday | Image courtesy of Ivins City
The Ivins City Council reviewed concept and site plans for Rocky Vista University at a council meeting Thursday | Image courtesy of Ivins City

The city council passed a height exception and viewed concept drawings for student housing at Rock Vista University, which is under construction on the north side of Center Street between about 300 East and 400 East.

The Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Southern Utah, will be the second medical school in Utah – University of Utah School of Medicine was the first. Construction began in April on the 104,000-square-foot medical school and adjacent student housing. Rocky Vista is expected to be open and accepting students by August 2017.

Read more: Construction begins on Southern Utah’s first medical school

Rocky Vista University elevation diagram | Image courtesy of Ivins City, St. George News
Rocky Vista University elevation diagram | Image courtesy of Ivins City, St. George News

The council agreed to the exception because with new setbacks and a stepped roofline, the building now falls below the 15-degree minimum view angle.

“It’s so much distance from any public sight line,” Hart said.

“We as a city are so supportive of the medical school. We are trying to be helpful without sacrificing our core values.”

Building setbacks for the buildings have been significantly increased and the new rooftop design will help break up the roof line, an Ivins staff report supporting the change said.

“These buildings are located hundreds of feet from neighboring properties and will not impact views of the Red Mountain,” the report said.

Storm water rate increase

After a public hearing at which no residents spoke, Hart said, the council approved a graduated rate increase for storm drain collection rates based on a study completed by Bowen Collins Associates.

After two severe storms in two years caused flooding, the city contracted for a completely new study of the whole area, Hart said. There are two significant projects planned to address drainage coming off of the east Kayenta area, water which has flooded in the area of 400 West Street. Construction is expected to start this summer.

The city has fallen behind in the rates and impact fees, Hart said, and the study addressed both the need for projects and the costs to the city.

Increases are set at 6 percent for 2016-2019; 4.5 percent for 2020 and 2021; and 3 percent for 2022 and 2023. The city provides storm drain service to more than 3,000 accounts and expects to spend about $380,000 per year for the next six years on improvement projects.

Budget

The council held a public hearing on the proposed budget at which no one spoke, Mayor Chris Hart said, and afterwards gave it tentative approval. The budget will be officially adopted at the next council meeting.

“The service level will be maintained,” Hart said. “It’s a well-thought-out conservative budget.”

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1 Comment

  • holger May 21, 2016 at 7:01 am

    “We as a city are so supportive of the medical school. We are trying to be helpful without sacrificing our core values.”

    We could all see this coming. City must have given them a wink before starting construction, letting them know a height exception was already in the bag.

    The Ivins City Council reminds me of someone with a problem of self control, justifying a little sin “just this once, then I’ll be able to stop.”

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