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Show Parking causes snag in county complex plans A parking problem may cause a major ma-jor change in the plans for the proposed propos-ed Uintah County-Utah State Complex Building. The plan, up to just this week, was to build the complex adjacent to the Uintah County Courthouse building. The complex would be a separate building to the rear of the existing building, connected by a covered walkway. The plans also called for a separate jail to be built to the east of the new complex building, where the tennis courts are now located. The parking problem revolves around lack of space around the new building. If the present location is chosen, there will only be enough room for 160 parking spaces. Bob Nicholson, with the County Planning Office, said a building of the size planned, which is about 42, 000 square feet of floor space, plus the present building, should have approximatley 250 parking park-ing spaces. At one time the County Commissioners Commis-sioners thought they had the problem solved, thinking they could purchase property owned by Don Showalter across the street to the West. Mr. Showalter decided he did not want to sell, leaving the present situation. Alternatives have been suggested, the two most practical being a parking park-ing terrace, or building the complex at another location. Nicholson said the terrace is certainly a viable option, but is expensive and is rather unattractive, unattrac-tive, which may distract from the Dinosaur Gardens, which would be right across the fence. Moving the building location creates its own problems, pro-blems, since bids are scheduled to be opened on Tuesday, June H. The parking terrace would need to he two levels high in order to allow the needed 250 parking spaces. Nicholson said the terrace is really loo expensive and not a viable option. Another objection objec-tion to this plan is that it would leave no room for expansion of the facilities or parking should that become necessary in the future. Uintah County Commissioner Byron Mcrrell said there is no guarantee the county will grow as some predictions have indicated, in-dicated, but if the While River Shale Project gets into full swing and other energy related businesses become viable, the xtential for growth is certainly cer-tainly there. Commissioner Mcrrell, at a joint meeting of the Uintah County Commission Commis-sion and the Vernal City Council, said a suggestion was made to build the complex at an entirely different location loca-tion AniKireotly the i ;i,-( hoi sc association in Vernal has decided to build a separate racing complex from a new county fairground which has been talked about. If horse racing is no longer held at the present Uintah County Fairgrounds, this would allow plenty of space for the new complex to be built there. If that should be the viable option. Merrell said plans would be revised, and the complex would also become a public safety compound. The firetruck and ambulance sevice would have facilities built to house them, and the circuit and district court facilities would also be moved to the new location. This would also allow the present building to be adequately remodeled to leave ample space for the departments depart-ments that remain. Moving the new complex to a different location would also allow expansion of the library, which is desDoratelv needed. If the : new complex was built x behind the courthouse, there x no room for expansion of the - Mayor Sam Snyder, at the sn said the alternate idea lus i i merit, and worth a very Especially appealing to Snyje; capacity for expansion in which would be virtually cu:i-: complex is built behind it '-thouse. '-thouse. Snyder said it would i; holding up the bid. even ux : be opened next Tuesday, if' native plan would solve thep": and make for a better situs: If it is decided the complex' be built where the horse racri-now racri-now is. there would need to!s modification to the present fe? and additions made for the"-and the"-and fire truck facilities Nicholson said the most r tion may be the least attrK-some attrK-some of the people involved |
