April 26, 2000

The vision for a continuous trail from Brigham City to Payson has run into another obstacle. It's an interesting development issue that has property rights and public access weighing in the balance. News Specialist Jed Boal has the details.

The Bonneville Shoreline Trail cuts a broken line along the Wasatch Front. But continuous work eases the path towards completion.

Harold Haugen helped cut the trail through boulders and brush. He says trail workers cleared it on good faith that this stretch across private property would not present problems.

He was wrong.

A fence went up last weekend and Haugen asked trail users to respect the signs until the dispute is resolved.

Harold Haugen/Trail Supporter: THEY ARE VERY MUCH UPSET. IMAGINE PLANNING A HIKE OR AN AFTERNOON UP ON THE TRAIL AND THEN HITTING THIS SIGN.

Many people ignore the signs and climb on through, at the owner's liability.

The property owner, Gary McDougal wants to develop five lots on the 10 acres.

The land is in Draper, land-locked by Sandy. The only access would be a road through a Sandy Park. He says Sandy assured him for years he would be able to develop the property.

Gary McDougal/Developer: THE CITY'S NOW COME BACK AND SAID WE DON'T HAVE TO LIVE UP TO OUR END OF THE AGREEMENT, WE'LL JUST CONDEMN THE TRAIL.

Both sides say the other is holding the trail hostage to get what they want.

Harold Haugen/Trail Supporter: HE FEELS LIKE THIS IS A LEVER TO GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION ON THESE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES.

Gary McDougal/Developer: I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S LEVERAGE AS MUCH AS MAKING THEM AWARE OF THE COMMITTMENTS THAT WERE MADE.

Jed Boal/Eyewitness News: SANDY CITY HOLDS THE KEY TO DEVELOPMENT ON THIS LAND. AND HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH McDOUGAL'S PLAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE SLOPE IS JUST TOO STEEP AND THERE ARE CRACKS IF AN EARTH QAUKE HIT.

Mike Caulam/Sandy Community Development Director: WE HAVE SOME REAL CONCERNS AND THINK IT'S BETTER LEFT OPEN UNLESS IT MEETS OUR STANDARDS.

McDougal says his studies show the land is fine for development.

Gary McDougal: I GUESS WE'LL HOPE TO PREVAIL UPON THEM OR THE PUBLIC WILL WANT TO USE THE TRAIL BAD ENOUGH THAT THEY'LL HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART.

The property owner says he supports the trail but, wants to develop it and won't take the fences down. Lawyers are already talking, so a judge may have the last word.