On March 13, 2008, Utah Governor Huntsman signed S.B. 53 addressing the use of initiative and referendum for administrative land use and zoning matters. Sponsored by Senator Goodfellow, and supported by the Utah Leagues of Cities and Towns as well as realtors and developers, the bill prohibits the use of local initiatives for land use ordinances or changes in land use ordinances, and it prohibits voters from requiring that the implementation of a land use ordinance be submitted to the voters. According to the bill’s sponsor, the measure was aimed at clarifying the existing law and that citizens can still petition against the ordinance, but just not against the process. This is disputed by others who claim that the measure has done more that clarify existing law and that now public has lost its voice in the process. (See the article in the March 14th Salt Lake Tribune at: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_8569208). The Utah Live blog also offers a discussion of the impact of this new law at: http://utahlive.net/2008/03/03/right-to-petition-will-be-eliminated-for-the-first-time-under-sb53. It is suggested that the precise meaning of the new law will likely be litigated in court.
The bill text, status and audio of debate is available at: http://le.utah.gov/~2008/htmdoc/sbillhtm/SB0053S01.htm
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