Alberta County holds public hearing on road vacation request from Church of Jesus Christ

In a recent meeting held by the Utah County Commission, the discussion centered around a public hearing regarding the potential vacation of certain roads in the historic Alberta town site plat. The meeting, which took place on April 19, 2023, began with a formal motion to open the public hearing, followed by a brief introduction from Ben Stanley of the County Attorney's Office. He explained that the request to vacate these roads came from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns several properties in the area.

The Alberta town site, established in 1908, includes roads that were never constructed, leading to complications in development. Stanley noted that while the public hearing was an opportunity for community input, the commission would not take any formal action until their next meeting on May 3. He emphasized the importance of gathering public comments to inform future decisions.

During the public comment portion, residents raised concerns about the implications of vacating these roads. Wade Eva, a local resident, questioned why the vacation request only pertained to church property and not the surrounding residential areas, which also contain unbuilt roads. He expressed worries about the potential for dead-end roads resulting from the proposed changes.

Kent Jorgensen from Farmland Reserve clarified that the request was specifically for the church-owned land and aimed to streamline areas deemed unnecessary. He acknowledged the community's concerns and assured that the commission would consider all feedback before making a decision.

As the meeting concluded, it was clear that the future of the Alberta town site roads remains a topic of significant interest and concern for local residents, with the commission poised to weigh public input carefully before proceeding with any actions. The outcome of this discussion will likely shape the development landscape of the area for years to come.