FOUNTAIN GREEN—A 26-lot subdivision proposed on the east side of S.R. 132 about 2 miles south and a half-mile east of Fountain Green is awaiting final approval by the Sanpete County Commission.
The subdivision, which would be approximately 150 acres, will contain 26 lots ranging from 5 to 8.55 acres each.
The land, owned by Lynn Cook of Moroni, has been in the Cook family for generations. Prior to his retirement, Cook raised turkeys there for more than 40 years. Before that, it was used for at least three generations as part of the Cook family sheep operation.
Asked what prompted such a radical change, Cook said that it was a story all too familiar among farm families in the county. “I raised my kids and sent them to school here, then sent them off to other places because there were no good-paying jobs to hold them in Sanpete County. Now they can’t afford to move back for the same reason.
Cook said that running a turkey farm takes lot of hard work, and you never know if you’re going to make any money. The bottom line was than none of his family wanted to come back and be turkey farmers. He said he had a choice of leaving the land fallow or trying to get some value out of it.
“I’m never going to farm turkeys again,” he said, “So it’s the right time.”
Cook’s subdivision will feature paved roads and a public water system. Power will be provided by Rocky Mountain Power. A natural gas line is already in place.
“I didn’t want this development to be like others in the county that have no paved roads or other services. There will be an HOA (homeowners association) and rules for home values and appearance.”
The water for the development will be transferred from a 400-foot-deep agricultural well his family developed years ago. Cook transferred those rights to a new well and purchased other water rights. He intends to construct a state-compliant water tank above the development that will gravity feed all lots.
When the subdivision plat map came before the commission for final approval on June 21, it was didn’t show easements for gas lines.
Commissioner Reed Hatch asked why. Cook said it was an oversight. He said the gas lines were in the earlier versions and he didn’t know why the engineer hadn’t included them in the version before the commission. He said he would make the correction.
The commission tabled acceptance of the final map until easements for gas and other utilities are drawn in.
