Neighbor raises concerns over proposed trail in Draper

DRAPER, Utah — A homeowner who borders a canal raised concerns Thursday over a planned trail, saying it would wipe out large trees and would potentially increase crime in the area.

The trail is eventually slated to run along the East Jordan Canal in the area of Corner Canyon High School.

Dan Horman, who lives next to an easement the city would use for the trail, said he believed the plan would require several trees that shade his house and yard to be removed, and he believed the same could happen across Golden Pheasant Drive (13100 South).

“That would have been nice to know,” said Horman, who maintains he didn’t know about the plan’s potential impact on his property until a neighbor brought it to his attention. “I think there had already been maybe a couple meetings where they went over budget, plans, pathway and everything. I wasn’t aware of any of that.”

Horman said beyond the aesthetics the trees offer, he is worried about what more traffic into the area could bring.

Already, he said, the neighborhood has had issues with burglaries and theft, and already attracts prowlers.

“The (chainlink) fence is 6 feet tall, and the average guy a little less than 6 feet tall, looks right into our backyard here,” Horman said. “With that fence gone, which they’ll take out, they’ll just literally hop right over.”

Draper City Parks and Recreation director Rhett Ogden said the first phase of the trail had been fully-funded and in the works for years, and the city had made efforts to make neighbors aware.

“I can tell you that we love trees, we love trails that have canopies like this one does,” Ogden said. “We don’t want to take out any trees, and if there happen to be a few  — we’d take out as few as possible to make the trail possible.”

Ogden said the city puts in trails because it knows residents and others around the Wasatch Front love them.

“We don’t put in trails for any other purpose than a better quality of life,” Ogden said.

Ogden said it is early in the process, and the trail hasn’t reached the design phase yet, and that neighbors should voice their concerns to the city.

Horman said he has previously reached out to city officials, including by filling a statement out at the last community meeting.

He said he moved into the house six years ago specifically for the privacy, and he was considering listing his home.

“I’m not sure what to do,” Horman said. “It’s kind of unfortunate. I feel like I’m really stuck in a hard place.”