and a program, and they have created a beautiful, touching video tribute.” BALANCING GROWTH WITH GREEN SPACE As Utah grapples with a statewide housing crisis, Marriott-Slaterville faces the challenge of addressing residential needs while preserving its unique character as its only open-space city. Mayor Van Leeuwen addresses the delicate balance the city must maintain: “We have a couple of pretty big developments on the horizon. We’re doing as much as we can to make the legislature happy and take care of some of the housing problems, yet still maintain our identity as Utah’s only open space city. Not a day goes by that somebody doesn’t stop me and say, ‘I sure enjoy living in your city.’” One significant development in progress encompasses approximately 100 acres along the Weber River and 12th Street corridor, just west of the business district.“About 25 acres are going to go into housing with approximately 200 units that are conceptually approved,” Morris explains. While the project is undergoing redesign with a new developer, the focus remains on affordability.“There’ll be some townhomes and single-family homes that will be affordable for people dealing with the housing crisis,” he adds. This mixed-use development reserves 30 acres for commercial development, attracting interest from various sectors. “There’s some healthcare providers looking to maybe go there, a grocery store, and some other concepts,” Morris notes. However, the city’s focus on environmental stewardship remains paramount - approximately 30 to 40 acres of floodplain will be preserved as open space. “The city will run it as a nature area. We can preserve the natural habitat there. When the flood years come, it’ll take the pressure off the river so we don’t flood, and it will be a beautiful old growth forest forever in perpetuity,” Morris emphasizes. REGIONAL COLLABORATION AND HISTORICAL LEGACY In the complex landscape of municipal governance, Marriott-Slaterville has cultivated strong partnerships with neighboring communities to address shared 188 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 01
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