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Show NOVEMBER 1995 Flagstaff Resort Proposal Shows P.C.’s Planning Process Needs Fixing The proposed Flagstaff development will change forever the face of Empire and Daly Canyons, situated between resort the present Deer Valley and the Park City Ski ski Area. In June of 1994, the developer of the massive project, United Park City Mines, submitted a detailed proposal to the Park City municipal government. Sixteen months later, Park had done almost nothing on Christe »pher Smart City the Flagstaff proposal. United Park, apparently frustrated at the lack of progress, took its proposal to Summit County That was possible 1,300 acres in question side the Park City boundaries. Utah’s annexation law, through should ski lodge, through bear space of is how Park the City project. it will Access as well as water and open wildlife, to name but a Planning decide to be built on 7th Street. [ would like to tell the Planning Commission that I do not want the Town Run extended to Main Street. I do not want my street closed and my be less rig- Park brunt and structure orous. United because whether to approve a proposal to extend the Town Run to Main Street. The plan includes closing Woodside Avenue, erecting a bridge over Park Avenue, and building several shops on 8th Street as well as a four-story United Park would save tens of thousands in fees and the planning would That things have been allowed to fall into this state, reflects poor management. It’s about time City Hall, including the City Council, fix the planning process, hire more staff, and clarify the rules, before more City sive be a its taxpaying that Dear Editor, The Park City Commission will soon Better late than never. But is it too late? United Park’s CEO, Hank Rothwell, says it may be in his company’s best interest to develop the project through Summit County and Park Planning Department is woefully understaffed. The answer is probably a little of both. The city administration should have made Flagstaff a top priority — knowing that it had 12 months to get the planning ball rolling on the masproject. But this vantage folly. is true didn’t and from point, it that was pure that the Park City Planning Staff is overworked and overwhelmed — a fact that hurts everyone trying to build in Park City. But it is slowly and painfully becoming clear that Park City’s planning process is in dire need of fixing. Not only are there too few staff, but there is no clear process in which a project, big anyone who approval better keep The Wants get troubles, planning like those building attorney Park City planners citys own ordinances. fact is, that a an to true to the provisions and surrounding Flagstaff occur. Limiting growth by hassling and delaying builders and developers, whether they are big or little, is not good government. Growth limits, if they are desirable, and they are, should be instituted so that builders and developers know up front how long they must wait for approval, and that once plans are accepted by the city that approvals will be forthcoming in a timely fashion. @ Ski Bridge: Another Loss of Identity For Park City how it will look. no doubt, or small, is approved. SOUNDING BOARD annex the land and have a say in how the project will come about and If Rothwell be, the Summit County’s planning process, instead Now, however, there is a flurry of activity within the Park City Planning process, of few. The question is, why did the Park City administration allow things to become so strained with United Park over the development? Either Park City was putting Flagstaff off, hoping to delay the project. Or, the It perhaps congestion the Department surrounding Flagstaff Apparently someone at City Hall realizes that it is to Park City’s benefit to instead to the resort, which will become part of Deer Valley, will be through Park City. There will be huge impacts on was free to take its proposal, which includes 175 single family dwellings, 508 condominium units, two hotels a day County tax windfall would to Park City and residents And Park was bound to deal with Park City for 12 months. But after that one-year period slipped away, United Park and property boon Under United Summit Park City, it will be Park City’s loss The because the lie just out- EDITORIAL go A GREAT neighborhood broken up. I do not want more traffic and parking problems new as day skiers come to use base area. I do not want the the noise of snow making. I do not want forty feet of Park Avenue covered by a bridge, so that dirt and ice and slush will gather. I do not want the historic tram tower moved and its base destroyed. I do not want more Hollywood fakefront alpine shops and restaurants on 8th street. I do not want to pay a new special tax to maintain the pro- posed summer park near the run. And I do not want to be threatened by the and his supporters anxious to give us an extended Town Run? These are some of the com- ments I’ve heard: e So skiers will have a world class experience. e So skiers can walk up and down Main Street in their ski boots, giving Park City a ski town ambiance. e So skiers carrying their wives’ and children’s’ skies don’t have to worry GIFT IDEA! MAIL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION REEQUEST TO P.O. BOX 1433 * PARK CITY, UTAH 84060 OR FAX 801-649-8046 developer that if this project isn’t built, an even worse one will replace it. Why is the Sweeney family so about getting hit by a car when crossing Park Avenue. e So we can boast that we can ski into town just as they do in Aspen. G:£ 4 Winn iT Published Monthly at 7,000 in Park City, Utah Become One With “The High Altitude Alternative” Subscribe your issues $12.00 eee and 12 ISSUES OF THE “TIMES Get ee ADDRESS. APT./ SUITE NO ciry/STATE zIP THIS GIFT IS FROM delivered - 12 issues ‘ x PHONE NO, (___] ADDRESS. — APT/SUITE NO. CITY/STATE CHECKQ PHONE NO. (___) VISAQ No Exp SIGNATURE PAGE 2 Feet Yet all along, I thought skiers came to Park City for the quality of the hills, the friendly and helpful staff, the good snow, the ease of long-distance transportation and the availability of lodging in various price ranges. What will happen to the town if this run is not built? Will the skiers stop coming? Will Marriott sell fewer time shares? Will Mr. Sweeney’s hotel be empty? Will he really be able to find a way to build something worse? Will there really be no way to get all the new skiers down from the current town run? Or will we just have to decide that this is the lesser of evils and that Old Town will have to absorb another loss of its identity? @ Elayne Scoafakes |