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Show V 5 Thursday, July 12, 1979 Page 10 7-11 Decision Tabled The City Council nas tabled an appeal by 7 Eleven Storq proponents. The proposed store was denied conditional use approval by the Planning Commission on June 27 and 7-Eleven sought to have that decision overruled at last Thursday's council meeting. The project originally was presented to the Planning Commission for site plan review in November of last year. The following months were devoted to conversations conver-sations between the developers and Park City Planner David Preece concerning con-cerning the requirements of the project. In May, the project again came before the Planning Commission, at which time several members voiced concerns that the busy intersection inter-section may not be a suitable location for the stpre. The commission asked for a traffic traf-fic analysis of the area and 7-Eleven 7-Eleven contracted city traffic traf-fic consultant Wayne Van-Wagoner. Van-Wagoner. At the May 24 commission meeting, VanWagoner told the members that after reviewing the project, he determined the new 7-Eleven 7-Eleven would not significantly significan-tly increase the traffic problems associated with the intersection. He commented com-mented there would be times during the peak periods of the ski season when exiting traffic from the resort would back up along Empire Avenue, and actually would create a decline in business at the store. He said the new store would not create more traffic traf-fic because most patrons would be of the stop-in nature who were already on the road, as opposed to people who would make a special trip to the store. He noted the developers had "produced the best access plan possible for the site." Planning Commission members, however, still were skeptical. Several members remained unconvinced uncon-vinced that the 7-Eleven was the best use of the busy intersection in-tersection property. The issue was tabled so members mem-bers could investigate the project more thoroughly before rendering a decision. In addition, the proponents were asked to revise their site plan to allow for a better flow of customer traffic and to negate the entrance-exit impact on both Empire and Park Avenues. The proponents returned to the June 27 Planning Commission meeting with revised plans. Contrary to earlier statments, they said 7-Eleven intended to close the existing store when the new one opened. In addition, 7-Eleven offered property and participation in adding a second land exiting from the resort on Empire Avenue. Bruce Erickson of J.J. Johnson John-son & Assoc. assured the commission that the actual opening of the new store would be at least 18 months in the future. By that time he said, a traffic light could be installed by the state at the intersection, alleviating the congestion problem. At that meeting, City Planner David Preece recommended the commission com-mission deny the conditional use permit based on the traffic traf-fic problems. A motion was made by Commissioner Greg Lawsen to deny the application. ap-plication. The conditional use permit was denied, with commissioner Bill Coleman abstaining. Last Thursday, proponents propon-ents of the project appeared at the City Council meeting requesting review of the project and a reversal of the commission's decision. Van Martin cf J.J. Johnson & Assoc. read a letter to council coun-cil members that reiterated the history of the project. "We are trying to point out to the City Council why we feel the decision by the Planning Commission was improper," Martin said. "The project was denied on the basis of the existing traffic traf-fic problems and the fact that our project may increase in-crease the hazard. We disagree, based on Wayne VanWagonen's study. The, conditional use aiso allows for office buildings and restaurants, ind we could have brought before the Planning Commission a project that would create a much greater impact. The decision of the commission was arbitrary and inconsistent. incon-sistent. The same night our project was denied, the commission approved an office of-fice building acrcss the street that is capable of creating the same traffic problems. The Planning Commission hasn't imposed this traffic problem on other projects; no one else has been asked to supply a traffic traf-fic study. Our feeling is the traffic is not the key issue here. It's for the same reason the commission wanted wan-ted to turn down the 7-Eleven years ago, but didn't feel it had the ability to do so. So we ask that you make a decision, or form a committee commit-tee to make it." Councilman Steve Dering told Martin, "I don't think the fact that they didn't want a 7-11 entered the Planning Commission's decision. The crux of the problem is that it's a busy intersection, and the biggest fear is the traffic circulation." Councilman Richard Mar-tinex Mar-tinex noted that 1978-79 sales tax records show "the 7-Eleven 7-Eleven has a helluva a lot of customers. They want to get in there and back out again fast." Martin countered that although "there is a tremendous tremen-dous volume of customers, they are spread out over a 24-hour period. I freely admit ad-mit that there is a congestion problem at that intersection, but if not a 7-Eleven, what is suited for that area?" Councilman Dering suggested a restaurant could be a more appropriate use," "or maybe it's just not suitable for anything right now." Planning Commissioner Bill Coleman, who owns the land company that sold the ' property to the proponents, noted Thursday night that he was donning "my real estate cap tonight." "The nature of the intersection inter-section is the problem here," Coleman said, "the denial of the permit is like closing the barn door after the horses are gone. It leaves the commission com-mission in an awkward position to approve anything. If we address the problem correctly, we should demand a light at that intersection. The city needs to touch bases with the state. Until then, the problem will be just as bad next winter as it was last. It is punitive to impose the traffic problems of the area on one particular parcel of land, when projects have been approved elsewhere in the area. The traffic will be the same if the project goes in or not. The city has to look at the intersection and solve the problem. Again, it is reacting to a condition that already exists, instead of planning for the future." Commissioner Dering countered, "the punitive aspect doesn't exist. You can't approve a project on the basis of a highway going in and a traffic light going in. It could go in next month or next year. You're dealing with the government. Sure, a light would help, but it isn't there." Mayor Jack Green commented, com-mented, "I don't think we can make a decision after 45 minutes of discussion over an eight-month project plan." Martin said, "We ask that you consider our request and give some thought to what is needed and wanted. It's difficult dif-ficult to believe that this project is the straw that broke the camel's back...." The 7-Eleven proponents then asked that the appeal be tabled. The Council agreed to table the issue and it will be brought up again at the July 19 City Council meeting. EXITS '4 JIM WHITE PLUMBING Sewer & Water repair & remodeling new constructions 649-9497 ( ITALIAN CUISINE) Join Us!! 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