Don't ignore geologic hazards
And then, the blame game commenced among homeowners, insurance companies, builders, developers and municipalities that approve building permits and zone land. As such, geologic hazards took on a higher profile, so much so that Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. empaneled a working group to develop recommendations to make land development in Utah safer.
The working group's recommendations, which soon will be made available for public comment, address many concerns raised in the aftermath of landslides and floods that have destroyed homes and threatened neighborhoods statewide. All stakeholders should participate in the comment period.
Some of the recommendations speak to enhancing the expertise of local officials charged with zoning decisions and the approval of building permits. Others speak to policy issues, such as developing a model geologic-hazard ordinance for counties and municipalities, as well as a recommendation that geologic maps along the Wasatch Front be updated and improved.
These recommendations are ambitious and would require financial support of state and local governments. Yet, the state and municipalities can ill-afford to continue as usual. As buildable land has become more scarce, developers and builders are constructing homes on slopes where there never has been any development. Elected officials who oversee these planning and zoning issues need the best available geologic information and training to guide their decisions.
Landslides not only pose problems for property owners, they also can impact governments financially when unstable ground disturbed by development ruptures water lines, sewer lines and even gas lines. Those costs are passed on to municipalities and utility users. With proper policies and practices, some of those costs could be mitigated. But this supposes the common-sense aspects of these proposals are embraced in spirit and with proper financial backing.
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