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Show Scene Sports Family war diary sends writer on a global journey. Page C-1 Miners back on the mound: baseball team is ready for season. p a a e R.-I The PARK CITY, UTAH www, p;Hkrccord.com Immigrants could lose driver licenses Park v Sat/Sui Staying on track - NO.6 , February 26-March I, 2005 Legislation eases voter registration Utahns would be able to sign up at the polls; some concerned By PATRICK PARKINSON Of the Record staff By JAY HAMBURGER Illegal immigrants contribute immensely to the economy of western Summit County but to keep their jobs they must be able to drive, said Silver Summit resident Jose Suarez, a Mexican who has lived here for a decade. "Everybody helps all of the community," Suarez said. With some legislators threatening to repeal a law that allows illegal immigrants to obtain driver licenses, and others pushing for creation of a "driving privilege card" - not to be used as identification - Suarez cautions lawmakers about how important it is for Latinos working to have a state ID. "It's too bad for us," he said, adding that, though, he's in the United States legally, a change would impact members of his family who are not. Without a driver license, some immigrants might drive without insurance, Suarez said, adding that in the event of a traffic accident, "Who pays?" However, a separate card for illegal immigrants, granting only the privilege to drive, has also met with Latino opposition. Last week, the Suarez family participated in two demonstrations on Capitol Hill where hundreds of people opposed Senate Bill 227, sponsored by Sen. Curtis Bramble, R-Provo. "It's discrimination. It's not fair," Suarez said, about Bramble's proposal for the new card. Merchants often require a driver license or state identification for cashing checks, he said. Suarez owns La Michoacana, a Mexican grocery store^n Prospector and is concerned that without identification he may have to refuse service to some of his undocumented clientele. "They don't like the Mexican identifications," he said, about check-cashing services used by merchants throughout the state. The overwhelming majority of his customers who are illegal immigrants have a Utah Driver License, Suarez said. "Everybody's thinking about it and we hope that they don't take the licenses or IDs," he said. The Summit County lawmaker who successfully sponsored the bill in 1999 to allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver licenses now supports creation of the driving privilege card, to prevent licenses from being used as identification. "I'm not happy, but let's just say, I guess I'm more satisfied than having them lose all of their driving privileges," said Rep. David Ure, RKamas. Since sponsoring the bill six years ago Ure has fought to maintain that privilege for illegal immigrants and helped stop a last-minute attempt by Brambie and others last year to repeal the law. "[Illegal immigrants] are here giving as much service to us as we are providing to them," Ure said. "You can't find a Caucasian person wiling to do the work that they're willing to do, day in and day out... if we are going to exploit them on one side, then we at least ought to have the courage to make life half bearable for them on the other side." The Senate, voting along parly lines, approved the bill, with 21 Republicans supporting SB 227. The super-majority decision, would allow the bill to immediately take effect if the governor and two-thirds of the House of Representatives supports the measure, Bramble said. No longer would driver licenses be issued to illegal immigrants. And after July 1, undocumented workers with licenses would need to obtain the new cards before their next birthday, Please see Immigrant, A-2 3 SECTIONS • 52 PAGES A-8 C16 A-9 C-12 A-14 C-4 A-15 B-9 C-2 A-15 C-19 C-4 B-14 C-7 B-1 C-10 B-2 Park RecoixL Serving Summit County since 1880 www.parkrecord.com 94937 00001 oonlight Snowshoe will be held at the McPolin Farm today , from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person. Join the Friends of the Farm for a memorable evening of music, chili supper, and a moonlight snowshoe. Space is limited. For more info, call Brigitta at 649-0411. Serving Summit County since 1880 Opponents say new card would single out illegals for profiling Agendas Automotive Business Classifieds Columns Crossword Editorial Education Events Calendar Letters to the Editor Legals Movies Professional Services Restaurant Guide Sports TV Listings Weather M JASON HUN1EFVPARK RECORD Eric Nelson runs on an elevated track at the Basin Recreation Fieldhouse at Newpark. He is training for the upcoming lacrosse season. Of the Record staff' In an effort to expand the number of Utahns easting ballots on Election Day, a state legislator has introduced a bill that, if passed, would allow people to register to vote the day of an election. Rep. Neil Hansen, a Democrat from Ogden, is sponsoring H.B. 267, legislation that has proven controversial even though most politicians at least publicly want to increase the number of people voting. Currently, people must file voter-registration forms in the few weeks before Election Day, with mail-in registration normally closing about three weeks beforehand and satellite registration occurring about 10 days before people go to the polls. Under Hansen's bill, people who qualify to vote Please see Bill, A-2 Quinn's rezone may result in lawsuit dismissal The Burbs is ready to expand light-industrial area along U.S. 40 By PATRICK PARKINSON Of the Record staff Transportation companies and contractors trying to keep pace with rapid growth in Summit County could soon see some relief if a Quinn's Junction industrial area expands. Though, don't expect to see noisy gravel pits or a busy Wal-Mart move into the 53-acre "service commercial1' zone, Summit County Planning Director Michael Barille said. The area east of U.S. 40 between S.R. 248 and some existing storage sheds has been a site of contention as landowners have fought with Summit County officials to expand a light-industrial area at Quinn's. "What we're hoping is that we've ended up with an area and a set of uses, and hopefully, eventually, some design controls that meet everyone's objectives," Barille said. Landowners, The Burbs, hoped the county would rezone 90 acres they own at Quinn's. The group sued Summit County lasl year for allegedly preventing the project from moving forward. The Burbs owns 47 of the 53 acres - most of which are already developed - that the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission recommended be rezoncd this week. "Once we get final approval of the plan our intent is to dismiss that lawsuit." said Richard Burbidge, a Salt Lake attorney representing the landowner. The Summit County Commission is expected to approve the rezone and final site plan for the proposed light-industrial park. A development application must then be submitted to the Basin Planning Commission that will detail height restrictions, architecture, lighting, landscaping and other guidelines. "The development agreement would be the second step in the process," Barille said, adding that the Snyderville Basin Development Code defines what types of businesses could locate at Quinn's. "Those included folks like operators of van and taxi and transit services ... people like small plumbing and painting and construction contractors who need a little bit of space," Barille said. "They need a small office space but they don't need high-dollar office space with lots of road frontage." "It wasn't structured for highway-oriented retail or big-box use." According to Barille, a majority of the feedback from residents concerning the rezone supported expanding the current industrial area - home to a towing yard, taxi operators, a concrete manufacturer and utility companies. "1 hate to predict what community reaction will be," Barille said, adding that moving lots on the site closer to the frontage road allows the eyes of passing motorists to focus on open space rather than the business park. "From Highway 40 your view is likely to be right over the top of it."r Burbidge is confident his client will fill the area with tenants serving the needs of Summit County. "Businesses that would complement the light-industrial needs ... that's certainly the indication at the public hearings. There was a lot of support for the need to have that kind of a use in Summit County," Burbidge said. "It'll meet a real need in the community. We see that as very positive." Kathy Kinsman, president of Citizens Allied for Responsible Growth, a local development watchdog, is pleased planning commissioners trimmed The Burbs' 90acre request. "We thought that was a little excessive," she said, adding, however, "CARG recognized there was some need." The compromise should not "overly tax the infrastructure ... or change the nature of the area in a way that negatively impacts a resort community," Barille said. "As long it was really set up to be for contractors and businesses that are directly serving the community," he adds. Plan emerges to save a historic boardinghouse Commissioners appear pleased with new blueprints for property By JAY HAMBURGER Of the Record staff Three months after City Hall issued a permit allowing the demolition of the historic Kimball boardinghouse in Old Town, the property owner has launched a fresh round of talks with the government that may ultimately keep the building standing. Owner David Belz and his development team on Wednesday appeared before the Park City Planning Commission with plans for an eight-unit project on the property, located at 801-817 Park Ave. Under the proposal, the developer is asking for eight units, four of which are seen as residential and the remainder being residential or commercial. Key to the proposal, however, is Belz's desire to preserve the boardinghouse, a landmark building dating to the city's early mining days. Last year, the city's preservation community was dismayed as the Park City Council reversed a previous 1994 government ruling barring a demolition. Belz obtained a preliminary demolition permit in November but has not submitted an application for the full demolition, according to the Building Department. Since then, Belz's team and City Hall have held talks about the potential demolition and, this week, Belz's side acknowledged that there may be means to preserve the building while developing the property. "We were asked if once again we would try to save it and once again we said we would," said Jeffrey Kuhn, who is managing the project for Belz. Kuhn said the current development plan calls for about 24,000 square feet of either commercial or residential space, down from the up to 39,000 square feet of development that he said a consultant has found could be built on the site. The boardinghouse would remain but Kuhn said it could be shifted on the property, toward Park Avenue. "The discussions bore fruit. We've come up with several things that we thought could save the building," he said. The Planning Commission appeared pleased with the proposal, with several members complementing the Belz team. Bruce Erickson, a commissioner, said he was "much impressed with the solution" and Planning Commissioner Jack Thomas said the plans are "sensitive to the community." "I was thrilled with last night's meeting," Kuhn said, adding, "We worked very hard and it was well received." Ray Milliner, the City Hall planner assigned to the Belz project, said the government is pleased with the plans as well. He said he expects the current plans to be approved once the Planning Commission provides input. "In some form, I'd say 'Yes,'" Milliner said about the chances of an approval. Milliner said Belz's side essentially devised the proposal outside of its discussions with the government. "They pretty much came up with this new plan on their own, without a lot of direction," Milliner said. The boardinghouse dates to sometime before 1889 and was damaged during a historic 1898 fire that leveled much of Park City. During a hearing last July, the preservation community urged the Park City Council to not allow Belz to raze the boardinghouse. But the elected officials found that procedural mistakes were made in the early 1990s, keeping the building off a City Hall-maintained list of historic buildings. That made it easier for Belz to obtain the approvals needed before a demolition is allowed. Because of its exclusion, the building was not found to be historically significant and not required to meet demolition provisions of the era. Please see Plan, A-2 SCOTT S\NE/PARK RECORD David Belz, who owns the historic Kimball Boardinghouse in Old Town, introduced new development plans this week. They were well received at a Planning Commission meeting. |