Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Brooke Walker ReportingA proposed zoning ordinance in Draper is causing controversy. The City Council is considering banning thrift stores, like LDS Church-owned Deseret Industries. Because the ordinance specifically singles out second-hand stores, Church representatives say it's unconstitutional. Today we spoke with several city planning experts who say they've never heard of a restriction like this before.
The very name represents a state symbol. Stores dot the Wasatch Front. There's no arguing the strong presence Deseret Industries has here in Utah. So why not on 123rd South?
Jeff Stenquist, Draper City Council: "Given our demographics, most people from Draper tend to donate to Deseret Industries more than to shop at Desert Industries. They go through the back door to donate more than the front door."
A D.I. is welcome, he says, just not wanted in a specific downtown location east of the freeway. The concerns? Traffic flow, mainly after-hour drop-offs and storage. But according to Mayor Darrell Smith, the church already agreed to resolve those issues. He says he would like to see a D.I. in Draper, just not where the church wants to build it.
Darrell Smith, Mayor of Draper: "There are areas we've recommended to them and this is where the discussion on the west side came in."
A friendly discussion, he calls it, but one that would boot the second hand store to the other side of town, in a remote location church representatives say wouldn't work.
Curtis Ravsten, Director, Deseret Industries: "We're looking to find good property near retail operation in the Draper area and believe that our service is valuable to any and all people, both donors as well as those who come to us for special training."
That includes more than 6,000 people who receive on-the-job training from Deseret Industries each year, most with special needs.
Deborah Bowman, Arc of Utah: "A lot of these people need that extra help and need a special program like the D.I. offers that can help them get a leg up on finding the employment."
Deborah Bowman is an advocate for individuals with disabilities. She says employment opportunities are desperately needed, but needed in accessible locations.
Deborah Bowman: "You need the bus routes and the TRAX routes that can get people from one place to another, because they can't get there themselves."
The City Council will vote on this issue at the next meeting on March 7th.
