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Show Fifteen Cents Volume Two Holiday Inn onding Endorsement Construction of a Holiday Inn which has languished for three years without financing could begin this summer if city officials agree to endorse industrial facilities bonding for the project. The City Council, at its Thursday night meeting, unofficially supported the special bonding which would create no liability for the city. Lend Name James Fenton, a vice president of Zion's Bank, told the council that under provisions of the Industrial Facilities Bonding Act, the city can use its bonding authority and name to issue bonds without incurring any obligation or expending ex-pending any of the city's bonding capacity. No tax or assessment could be levied by the city to retire the bond debt," he stressed. Learning Center Receives Cond. Use Permit From Comm. The Park City Learning and Cultural Center Cen-ter was granted an extension of its conditional con-ditional use permit by the Planning Commission Wednesday night and a ground-breaking ceremony is tentatively scheduled for April 13. The project had received commission approval more than a year ago but lack of financing stalled it until First Security Bank recently agreed to fund an initial phase. The original approval encompassed a learning center, a recreation building, tennis courts, a swimming pool and 318 living units. As now planned, the first phase will include a 17,000 square-foot learning center building and 104 residential residen-tial units on 4.9 acres near Prospector Square The learning center building is slated to cost $700,000 with the entire first phase pegged at the $2.2 million mark. The quality of construction was termed "exceptional" by Western Woodlands official of-ficial Gordon Sloan. George Kaiserman of the University of Utah's Department of Continuing Education said the university had been asked to provide input to the designers of the learning facility and that every Lawson Given Commission Post Greg Lawson was appointed to the Park City Planning Commission Thursday Thur-sday night by a slim 3-2 City Council vote. Lawson fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Wayne Iverson. In his letter of resignation Iverson recommended recom-mended that Lawson, who had previously applied for a commission post, be selected to replace him. Councilman Richard Martinez, Jan Wilking and Steve Dering voted in favor of Lawson while Councilwoman Eleanor Bennett and Councilman Jack Green said "no." Background Lawson is originally from Manhattan Beach, California and resided in Salt Lake I I -IB AREA SNOW SKIING Park City Park West 68" 68" Good-Exc. Snowbird 65" Alta Brighton 72" 69" IS White Pine Good-Exc. H 3B rgprirarritni SKI ! FACTS ! OniWSST CCRFCHATION Box 2633 SLC, UT 84110 w lw-rV-r4fe 6X011 w The project developers are Rob Morris of the Capson, Morris, and McCornb real estate firm, attorney Rich Prince, a Park City resident, Bill Kibbie, owner Jelco Incorporated and David Gelzahler, a law partner of Prince. They would give their property title to the city and the city would, in turn, pass title to the bonds to the developers with an obligation to return the property title when the bonds are paid in full. The developers would make lease payments to the city which would be used to retire the bond debt. Should the developers fail to make the payments and default on the bonds, the matter would be settled between the bond holders and the bond trustee, First Penco of New York City. The bonds are tax exempt for the buyer and Fenton said they "appeal to an en SI jIwmi n JnS Western Woodlands official Gordon Shan presents plans for the Park City Learning and Cultural Center to the Planning Commission. request has been incorporated. The University plans to use the learning lear-ning center, as well as other facilities in Park City, he said. c ' ? I (J- Greg Lawson City for five years before moving to Park City in June of last year. The 34-year-old land economist is employed em-ployed by the Salt Lake engineering firm of GengeCall and has a B.A. degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Masters from the University Univer-sity of Southern California. The Commission Lawson said he applied for the Planning Plan-ning Commission vacancy because he "wanted to become involved in what's happening in Park City" and felt his background in planning and economics could be of value to the commission. The land economist views the question of annexation as one of the broader Continued on Page 3 Park City Wednesday,larch23, 1977 Asks City Fo tirely different type of investor." The bonds would behold at an eight percent interest rate and, with their tax exempt status, most likely would be purchased pur-chased by persons or companies in high tax brackets. Completion of the Holiday Inn, proposed for the north end of town, is expected ex-pected to cost $3.5 million with Zion's providing the construction loan. The loan would be repaid upon sale of the industrial in-dustrial facilities bonds. Fenton said First Pennco is "an active dealer in muncipal bonds" and is "highly regarded." Change in Law The Industrial Facilities Bonding Act was originally written to allow cities to attract new plants and factories. In the recently concluded session of the Utah State Legislature, the scope of the law When the project was approved a year ago, the University had committed to lease the learning center building for seminars and professional groups. The lease would have cost virtually nothing but the school would have been responsible respon-sible for maintenance of the building. Although the University will not commit com-mit to a lease on the new version. Planning Plan-ning Commission chairman Burnis Watts said the school is "still very interested" in utilizing the facility. Sloan, who has called the project "the finest learning center of its type in the country," said once work is started on the first phase efforts will continue toward completion of the entire project as originally conceived. Man Buried In Slide One man was buried and another was partially caught by an avalanche in the Jupiter Bowl area Monday morning. Rick Chadwick, a season pass holder living in Salt Lake City, was skiing Portuguese Por-tuguese Gap at the east end of Scott's Bowl with companion Tom Montgomery when the area slid at 10:40 a.m. The area was closed due to avalanche danger and both skiers said they were aware of this. Chadwick was carried 600 feet down the slope and was completely buried except ex-cept for a hand sticking out of the snow. Montgomery was swept 150 feet down the east side of the trail and was buried up to his knees. Two other skiing champions heard the snow fracture and reached Chadwick within two minutes of the slide. They ex Sewer Petition Filed The intiative petition calling for Park City's withdrawal from the Snvderville Basin Sewer Improvement District has been filed officially at City Hall, an unen-thusiastic unen-thusiastic City Treasurer Bruce Decker informed the City Council Thursday night. As a formality, the council moved that the petition be placed on the ballot at the November general election if it receives the required number of signatures. It was amended to include bonding for recreation, food, and shopping services. The new law is pending the signature of Governor Scott Matheson. Acting City Attorney Nick Colessides, who was appointed to replace Carl Nemelka later in the meeting, said the council could pass a resolution stating stating Park City's willingness to issue the $3.5 million in bonds. He noted, however, the City could not yet adopt an official resolution because the amended act will not become law until the governor gover-nor signs it and until 60 days have passed since the March 10 end of the legislative session. Fenton said he received assurance from Matheson's office that the bill will be signed. The council reacted favorably to the bonding but Councilman Steve Dering noted this did not constitute approval of the hotel itself which will have to go through the Park City Planning Commission. Com-mission. Plans for the Holiday Inn received commission authorization three years ago, but the long delay in construction will mean another trip through the approval ap-proval process. "Special" Rob Morris said construction of the lodging facility would begin this summer with occupancy next winter if all the necessary approvals are obtained in time. "We've worked long, hard and diligently diligen-tly on this," Morris said, "but we've had a hard time financing it due to interest rates and problems experienced by Park City." He said First Pennco, which has agreed to underwrite the bonds, is "favorably impressed with Park City and what can happen in the future." As for the 4.5 acre project site located at the junction of Highways 224 and 248, Mr. Morris remarked, "The alfalfa crop just hasn't done it." Morris said he and his partners have purchased "a lot of antiques and super things" to make the Park City Holiday Inn a "special hotel". Architect Ron Mullen, who designed the Hilton Hotel in Salt Lake City, was hired to draw plans for the new facility and was instructed "to get away from the typical Holiday Inn look." Holiday Inn was chosen as the hotel franchise, Morris stated, . because "they're the only hotel people in the United States who can pick people off 1-80 all four seasons of the year." Holiday Inn generates in excess of 80 percent more reservations than any other chain, Morris said. City Manager Wayne Matthews strongly endorsed approval of the bonding bon-ding saying, "it opens the door for Park City. You can't estimate the effect it will have." tricated him from the debris and found him to be breathing normally, suffering only bumps and bruises. Members of the Park City Ski Patrol arrived on the scene within four minutes of the accident but Chadwick had been freed by that time. Phil Jones, mountain manager for Park City Ski Patrol arrived on the secen within four minutes of the accident but Chadwick had been freed by that time. Phil Jones, mountain manager for Park City Ski Corp., said the slide area "looks grim" and termed Chadwick "very lucky." "People have to appreciate the fact that there's an avalanche problem over there," Jones said. "It's not Claimjum-per." Claimjum-per." Decker calculated 130 names would be needed to put withdrawal before the voters and sponsor Bob Trepanier said Monday, "I think we're over the top." Five sponsors are required to file the petition. The other four include Don Jay Alvey, Clements Hanson, Alvin Young, and Pete Solis. Janet Trepanier and Continued on Page 5 IB t)Bt)BESIBBtSBeIGU lJBISHI IBESj WEATHER Snow beginning Thursday with more snow off and on through the weekend. High temperatures are expected to be in the low 30's with lows in the teens. Main St. Merchants Hear Trolley Plans A plan for incorporating an electric trolley car into the Main Street traffic flow was presented to Main Street merchants Wednesday morning. Harry Reed and Bill Coleman, two proponents of the proposed redevelopment redevelop-ment of lower Main Street met with merchants at the Treasure Mountain to demonstrate how the trolley can be made to work without closing Main Street to automobile trafic. We are trying to ad a transportation system with the redevelopment plan," Reed told the business persons. Coleman said he felt the no-fare bus system "has not been very successful" to which Reed added, "The trolley is unique and more attractive than buses." East Side The two local real estate agents are proposing that the trolley tracks run up the east side of Main Street, powered by overhead electrical lines. The overhead power supply could be installed, they said, at the same time the old street light standards are resurrected on Main Street. All parking on the east side of the street would eliminated. Coleman said there are several factors dictating that the trolley tracks run up the east side. He noted that a major water line lies under the west side of Main Street and that the Swede Alley offstreet parking is closer to the east side. He also observed that businesses on the east side of Main Street can take deliveries at the rear of their stores whereas many west side businesses have no rear access, and therefore, need parking in front of their buildings. The east side is also the "sunny side of the street," Coleman said. Reed said the elimination of parking on the east side would necessitate more walkways connecting the Swede Alley parking area with Main Street. Ruin Main Street Strongly opposed to the trolley proposal, ILynn Turner said, "This will just ruiji Main Street." She predicted visitors would ride the trolley up and down the street without getting off to shop. She also contended that the Swede Alley parking is already being used to capacity. Coleman disagreed, saying the trolley would be "something fun to do" which would "get people out of their cars." He later remarked that Park City must "get rid of the car." He said visitors come to Salt Lake City by air, have no car when they arrive in Park City and "There's nothing upgrading about a bus." Council Denies Water Charge Suspension A request for a two-month suspension of water charges for lodges was denied by the City Council at its Thursday night meeting. Citing poor business and subsequent low water usuage by hotels and lodges Bill Shorter, general manager of the Treasure Inn, asked for a suspension of the April and May water charges" in order or-der for us to get caught up with our cash flow..." City Attorney Nick Colessides told the council it could not vote to violate its own water rate ordinance and advised against again-st the proposal. Mayor Leon Uriarte said such a suspension would not be allowed under the terms of the city's water contract with the state. The City received a state Continued on Page 5 Number Twenty-Six 3Bt . , IBG Three Weeks It is estimated that installation of the : trolley track would take three weeks. Coleman said it will cost $35 to $40 a linear foot to lay the track with the total cost of the Main Street line and three trolley cars being approximately $110,-000. $110,-000. Should the city opt for Main Street trolley, Coleman predicted that all but $20,000 to $25,000 of the needed funds could be provided by federal grants. "We're not asking the city for money now," he stressed. Support Several Main Street merchants voiced emphatic support for the trolley propo- sal. Dick Doty of the Family Jewels cited the development of Prospector Square and the new state highway as future detractors from Main Street business. He said the downtown area "will have to change or go broke" with the emergence of Prospector Square. Doty said his typical customer is not a skier and that something must be done to accomodate the non-skier. He remarked that the majority of people who do business on Main Street are not capable of walking up its entire length. "We must entertain these people and the trolley would help to do it," Doty said. "I cannot survive on just local business and the skier. I must have business from the Wasatch Front. The project is unique enough to have people spend the day or week here." "Wally Wright created the second largest tourist attraction in Utah," Coleman added. Wright, another backer of the lower Main Street redevelopment project, created Trolley Square in Salt Lake City. The Main Street Photographer, Nick Nass, cited problems experienced by the downtown areas of other cities. He said Santa Barbara, California and Ogden, Utah were both threatened by large shopping malls built outside the city centers. Santa Barbara eliminated all parking on its main street and by constructing offstreet parking and implementing landscaping made the downtown area "the place to have a business," Nass said. He added that Ogden is in the process developing a downtown mall to counter a Continued on Page 5 Accused kidnapper Jack Reed has been returned to Utah from California. Page 3 Dr. Ford McBride asks, "A re you perfect?" Page 6 The first Town Races of the season were held last Thursday. The results are on.... Page 7 The final pro races of the year will be staged at Snowbird on April 2nd and 3rd. I Page 9 a BOcl MjPlgfipm iBifBasaiai n rtmmg INSIDE |