Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Developers and residents press West Valley council on housing, golf course access and rental licensing
Summary
During public comment, a homebuilder asked the council to revisit parts of a 2021 Western Field development agreement to enable lower‑priced homes; residents raised tee-time allocation at the city golf course and a homeowner said recent rental-licensing rules have mislabeled long-term family housing as a rental business.
Several members of the public used the council’s 30‑minute public comment period on Jan. 28, 2024, to raise neighborhood concerns about housing, golf-course access and recently enacted rental-licensing rules.
Barry Gittleman, president of Hamlet Homes, said his company is building two subdivisions in West Valley and described slow sales at the Western Field development approved in 2021. He told the council the development agreement is 13 pages and that his company wants to meet with staff to consider “minor modifications” limited to three sentences so the builder could offer homes in the $700,000–$800,000 range rather than the near‑$1,000,000 price point currently on the market. Gittleman said he was not seeking major changes but requested staff-level talks to adapt to current mortgage and market conditions.
Another resident said the city golf course’s tee-time system disadvantages non-league players because leagues can reserve two weeks in advance while casual players get only a week; the speaker asked staff to review pass allocations and reservation policies as the season reopens.
A homeowner who did not give a name said new city regulations now require owners of non-owner-occupied properties to obtain a West Valley City business license and designate such properties as rentals. Speaking about the house at 3379 Hillsdale, the owner said family members have lived there for nearly 30 years and that the licensing requirement has generated nuisance contacts and solicitations; the speaker requested relief and was told by the mayor they could return in two weeks to finish their remarks when time ran out.
Council did not take action on these public comments during the meeting; staff and councilors may follow up after the comment period. The record shows the council proceeded to a scheduled appointment process for a District 4 vacancy after closing public comment.
Representative quotes:
"We’re requesting that council allow us to meet with your staff and discuss making some minor modifications..." — Barry Gittleman (Hamlet Homes).
"The number of passes that were allocated was reduced this year..." — Unidentified golf-course commenter.
"Because the Hillsdale property is now considered a public for profit rental business, I am continually in receipt of annoying and irrelevant phone contacts..." — Unidentified homeowner (3379 Hillsdale).
Next steps: The speakers asked staff and council to review development-agreement flexibility, golf course reservation policy, and the application of the rental-license requirement; no formal referrals or staff directives were recorded in the meeting minutes.
