Forwarded from Utah County <noreply@everbridge.net> Subject: Transparency Report on Private Roads and Gates in Woodland Hills Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2021 21:40:24 +0000 (UTC) To read the Transparency Report on the Upcoming Public Hearing Regarding Private Roads and Gates, please go to https://www.woodlandhills-ut.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Private-Roads-an... -----text of report------------------------------------------------- Community of Woodland Hills City Report Prepared by the Transparency Committee March 9, 2021 NOTE: Opinions and information published by the Transparency Committee are not official City positions. They represent the perspective of the Transparency Committee, and of the person(s) quoted or interviewed. While we strive to publish the most accurate information possible, plans and decisions can change quickly as new information is acted upon by City officials. Accordingly,the following information is accurate as of the date of publication, but beyond that time some details may become outdated. We have a public hearing on March 17 regarding gates and private roads in Woodland Hills. Where has this issue come up most recently? In the Summit Creek Development, but amendments to these ordinances could apply in other areas of the city as well. How would this change apply to Summit Creek? In Summit Creek, a change in the ordinances would impact three specific issues. First, should closed gates be allowed across a public road? Second, should private roads be allowed? And third, should entrances to private roads be controlled by security gates? There are both supporting and opposing views on each of these questions. Some of those views will be presented here. 1. Should closed gates be allowed across a public road? Opposing View For years residents looked forward to the completion of Summit Creek Drive as an additional emergency exit in the event of wildfire. So concerns abouthaving gates across the road are understandable. (Examination of city records shows that the gates were never actually authorized by the city council, but were constructed anyway out of an honest misunderstanding.) Many residents have other concerns aswell. Some claim that any gate across a public thoroughfare violates State law. Because the gates are designed to open automatically for every vehicle, they offer no selective security, so many residents feel they are not worth the inconvenience. Some have expressed concern about the gates during winter storms. A car skidding on ice might not be able to stop in time for a gate to open. And some residents have reported that at times the gates have failed to open. During a medical emergency or evacuation, this malfunction could be a life-or-death issue. Research conducted by the city has shown that ���of approximately 10 other cities queried ���none had a gate across a public road. Supporting View Even though they were constructed in error, the gates on Summit Creek Drive have been there since the beginning. This has led the developers to market the area as a gated community. Many residents purchased homes there with that expectation, and believe it is not fair to change things after the fact. From a practical standpoint, there is a speeding issue on Summit Creek Drive, and residents there believe that closing the gates helps control that problem. And the closed gates technically do not completely block approaching vehicles: because the gates open automatically for traffic, they just slow it down. Developers also maintain they are unaware of any instances when the gates have failed to open, and that an override feature should keepthe gates open during an evacuation. They also maintain that the gates are left open during the winter, and that heated pads at the gate monuments melt ice and snow to prevent skidding. 2. Should private roads be allowed in Woodland Hills? Private roads do not belong to the city. They usually belong to the home owners' association (HOA) of the development where they are constructed. In turn, the HOA controls access to them. Supporting View Because a private road is owned by the HOA, it isalso maintained by the HOA. This means that road repairs and snow removal must be financed by the home owners themselves. In some cases the HOA may contract with the city to provide services such as snow removal. All of this not only saves the city money but can also add revenue. In turn, it can offset each resident's tax burden. What's more, the decision to make a road private is not irreversible. At any point in the future, an HOA can ask a city to assume ownership and turn a private road into a public one. Opposing View HOA road ownership has a downside as well as an upside. For example, Summit Creek residents living on public roads may object to spending their HOA dollars for private road maintenance. And maintenance costs can be very high. In 2019, a repair job for Lower Oak Drive was projected at $90,000, and road repair costs have risen dramatically each year since. Snow removal is another big expense. It may not be reasonable to expect a home owners association to have the funds necessary to meet those expenses. And while an HOA can request that a city make their road public, the city is under no obligation to honor that request. At times, developers opt for private roads because they may not be subject to public road construction standards. For example, a road may be constructed narrower than usual to provide more land forbuilding lots. In turn, a narrower road may be difficult for emergency vehicles to navigate. Emergency vehicles can also be impeded if snow is not removed promptly by the HOA. Cities must carefully negotiate with developers when opting for private roads to avoid these kinds of problems. 3. Should security gates be allowed to control entrances to private roads? Usually, private roads have an accompanying security gate with an entrance code. Property access is controlled by the HOA, which is also responsible to service the gate. Supporting View While not everyone wants to live in a gated community, they are increasing in popularity across the country for several reasons. Gates provide a degree of security and privacy. They deter trespassers, thieves, vandals and solicitors. Home owners who spend time away appreciate the peace of mind that comes from knowing their home is in an area restricted to residents and guests. Gates also tend to slow down traffic, making streets safer for bicyclists, pedestrians and children at play. These benefits oftentranslate into higher property values, which can help reduce overall property taxes for residents in other parts of town. Although a common concern with gates is emergency access, they can be equipped with features that allow automatic entrance for emergency vehicles.Overrides that keep gates open in the event of an evacuation can also be installed. Opposing View Some residents express concerns that���ifgates have malfunctioned in the past���emergency access features could fail again. Consequently, those living behind the gates must assume some risk, understanding that gates can cause delays in response time if they don't work as intended. Even when gates do work, waiting for them to open may cost emergency responders valuable seconds. This report was authored by Glenn Anderson for the Woodland Hills Transparency Committee.