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RIVERTON, Utah (AP) -- Plans to dress up a proposed sewage plant to appear like a rural setting weren't enough to convince a judge that the facility would look like it belonged.
Judge Stephen Roth of 3rd District Court upheld a Riverton Board of Adjustment decision to revoke a permit for the plant near the Jordan River.
The South Valley Sewer District planned to build "red-barn" type farm buildings for the facility, which would serve southern Salt Lake County. But the idea was insufficient to ensure that the plant would have "a rural look that is consistent with the character of open spaces in agricultural areas," Roth wrote.
The district, which appealed the Board of Adjustment decision, can still go back to Riverton zoning officials with another plan.
The district purchased 123 acres and planned to use 20 for the new facility, leaving the rest as a buffer and open space.
The district said the plant is necessary because of the booming growth in the area. The district serves the south part of Sandy, Draper, Bluffdale, Riverton, South Jordan, Herriman and the west portion of unincorporated Salt Lake County.
Riverton planning commissioners granted a use permit in March 2005, but the Board of Adjustment revoked the permit in November.
Opponents of the proposed plant said it's true that the growing area needs more sewer capacity, but they support expanding the existing plant in West Jordan over building a new one.
"It was never anticipated in the (Riverton) city plan that an industrial-type plant would be in that area," opponent John Homer said. "I don't know that the story's over yet, but for now it's good news."
------ Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
