Proposed apartments met with mixed reactions in Hyrum

A proposal to add apartment complexes to the Elk Mountain residential area was approved by the Hyrum Planning Commission on Thursday evening over the objections of several residents who complained the development would change the town’s character.

"I'm afraid to see the negative impact of adding apartments to Hyrum," said Jared Scott, one of the first residents to voice an opinion about the proposal from Logan-based Kartchner Homes. “I appreciate the developer's efforts, but I fear that we'd lose that small-town feeling that Hyrum is known for if we had apartment buildings."

Others expressed personal distaste for apartments, fears of an HOA-controlled community and worries about a negative atmosphere that could be created by the development.

"I feel like having a high-density apartment complex is too much for Hyrum," city resident Scott Jensen said. "I'm all for development, but I'm afraid that apartments would bring in the wrong kind of people."

Dan Larsen, who has been in charge of land acquisition and development for Kartchner Homes for the past 14 years, said this is only a plan, and that it can be changed if necessary.

"Nobody's going to say up front that they want apartments," Larsen said. "And even if it's approved in this meeting, we still need to bring it before the city council before we can proceed with the construction."

Some residents, such as Lu Ann Keller, defended the decision to add apartments to Elk Mountain. She argued some people can't afford a home, and need a place to rent.

"I feel like development should be finished," Keller said. "Not everyone can afford a home to start their lives in. I couldn't afford a home when I was newly married. Let's give this a chance."

The council voted unanimously to accept the proposal.

"We'll present this before the city council at their meeting next week," Larsen said. "If all goes well, we should be starting construction in late August, early September."