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Show 1THE83 Thursday, July 19, 1979 Page 3 Preece Hits Lack Of Respect And Support As City Planner In a surprise announcement announ-cement last week, Park City Planning Director David Preece resigned the city post he has held for the past two years. This week, The Newspaper asked him why he is leaving, and what's ahead for Park City. In a July 5 letter addressed ad-dressed to City Manager Wayne Matthews, Preece noted that in the two years since his appointment, Park City has witnessed an incredible in-credible growth rate that has seen the approval of seven subdivisions consisting of over 460 single family units, eight major planned unit developments, as well as numerous smaller complexes com-plexes totalling over 1,800 multi-family units. In addition ad-dition to the residential development, Preece commented com-mented that there has been over 285,369 square feet of commercial space approved. ap-proved. While the director acknowledged support by individual in-dividual members of the Planning Commission, the city engineer, the city traffic analyst, the Snyderville Basin Sewer Improvement District director and members mem-bers of the Park City Fire Protection and school districts, he commented, "I fear that all of the time and energy that the commission, myself and those individuals have put forth to minimize the adverse effects have all been in vain due to the insufficient insuf-ficient building and site inspection. in-spection. I cannot continue to work under conditions where there is no respect or support given to the Planning Plan-ning Commission's actions and policies and where there is no guarantee that the developments being approved ap-proved will be in compliance to their plans." Preece said Tuesday that it is his regard for planning and Park City and the lack of attention to both that prompted prom-pted his resignation. "I'm disenchanted," Preece said. "It's a continuing con-tinuing frustration to me. That's a self-generated feeling, but I have made every attempt to eliminate it and 1 just can't. I felt as an educated city planner I could make an impact here- in Park City with basic understanding under-standing and creative and constructive help. "But I caught on soon enought that that was not the case," Preece continued. "I realized that the way the city is handled now is based on how planning was handled in the past. I felt there were a lot of areas that needed analyzing before projects were considered, but my input in-put was ignored." Some major projects Preece feels needed further review include Deer Valley, the Depot Project and the Coalition Building. "The Deer Valley project had a trafffic analysis done in the spring of 1977. But no one looked into how that would affect existing circulation cir-culation today. When the Depot project plans were presented, the proponents were divided on how they wanted the project handled. In fall of 1977 the Planning Plan-ning Commission and myself realized that the land had been rezoned based on a conception, and we have found from experience that that is not the best way. That project could be anything. "And the Coalition, the first fir-st phase plans were developed and then the owner parted ways with his partners. Both projects are still not developed. Where is the breakdown? After the plans are submitted and it is decided that they are within state statute and city ordinances or-dinances it is generally approved. ap-proved. But if the project is not being developed as it was proposed, the city has a responsibility to make sure the developer complies. The city attorney is employed for that purpose. But up until now, violations have been allowed to occur." Preece commented that he has no policing authority when it comes to violations. He said, as planning director, direc-tor, one of his functions is to make sure the building inspector in-spector knows what was proposed and the conditions and stipulations of project approvals. It is then up to the inspector to withhold an occupancy oc-cupancy permit until all conditions have been met. ' "Permits are being issued without a final check-off of conditions," Preece said. "We are understaffed it's no one's fault, really. It's virtually impossible for one man to see if every house is complying. It's my third building season in Park City, and we still have only one building inspector. We have a good city engineer, but that's not enough help to see that water line problems and drainage are complied with. What we need is five inspectors inspec-tors during the busy building season and then taper off to three. Until we reach our growth maximum, we need two site engineers so projects projec-ts are implemented correctly. correc-tly. "Right now John Probasco reviews the site plans and makes sure they are engineered correctly on paper, but no one is designated to go to the spot to see if it's being done right. Why bother to plan if you aren't going to monitor how it's carried out? "I see violations all the time and I try to correct them," Preece continued. "But there is no rhyme or reason some codes are enforced en-forced and some aren't. The laws are for everyone, I thought. I report the violations and nothing is done. The city should give me the power to enter into action with the city attorney. It comes back to enforcementand enfor-cementand we've gone by the buddy system too long in Park City. And it's the innocent in-nocent people who are being hurt by it. "As an example of the lack of inspection and enforcement, enfor-cement, Lot 19 in Holiday Ranch has been constructed with five units, each equipped equip-ped with its own kitchen facility. A single-family residence is considered a permitted use and a duplex the maximum conditional use for that area. I sent a letter let-ter to the building inspector in mid-June and another. letter let-ter to the City Council on July 9. So far, no action has been taken. If proper inspection inspec-tion procedure had been followed, someone would have caught that before it was completed and listed on the real estate market. "These violations occur all the time. It is a detriment to the efforts of the Planning Commission which spends time approving projects based on how they're presented. Then when violations are made known, nothing happens. It's the innocent in-nocent buyers who are hurt by the frozen pipes in the winter and the basement flooding in the spring. "The attitude is build it as fast and cheaply as you can , sell it, and get the hell out of town. It's the resort syndrome. syn-drome. But this is a real live town with people who live here. It's great that we are accessble to a ski resort, but Park City was here longer than as a resort. It was founded foun-ded on different principles than the carnival type atmosphere at-mosphere associated with resorts. Something needs to be done. "My feeling is, growth and development are fine if monitored and handled properly," Preece said. "The basis bf making sure that development does not get out of hand is to determine deter-mine whether the impacts outweight the benefits. The Planning Commission has a good handle on the review process. But the projects are now so numerous that there is too much to be handled meeting once every two weeks. But they've been doing the job, spending a lot of time and energy seeing that water, street circulation, cir-culation, sewer and site plans are in compliance. Then later I get calls saying the developer has not followed through with certain cer-tain aspects. What is the point of people spending their time if that's going to happen? "I felt I had the support of the Planning Commission during my time here. My function was to given them as much information as possible so they could make decisions. There were times when the commission rejec- " ff&b III David Preece ted my recommendations, but that is their perrogative. I am concerned that we have zoning ordinances and annexation an-nexation policies, but some members of the City Council have the attitude that they can overrule anything anytime. Take the Quarry Hills annexation. The Land Management Code requires a recommendation from the Planning Commission and a public hearing. But the recommendation from the commission was sidestepped and the council went ahead and annexed on their own. "We need a city attorney who will stand by our ordinances or-dinances and defend them. I think they are good ordinances, ordinan-ces, and I'm aware of the state statues and don't think we violate or exceed our authority. But our attorney questions the authority of the Planning Commission. "There is a mixture of philosophies on the commission com-mission that ranges from no , growth, , to controlled growth it's a good mixture. ' I've worked' 'with several' planning commissions and I find Park City's to be among the strongest. But proper procedures between the commission and the council and with the ordinances need to be followed. "The city is being run with a small-time attitude. It is a complex and much bigger city now, and we need long-term long-term solutions instead of constantly patching holes. Park City needs to be run professionally like any big corporation. We are in dire need of professional management. "Some things to look toward in the future include the master plan update, which is essential. The older parts of town that are in the historic residential district' should be rezoned estate, including in-cluding Rossi Hill and Norfolk Nor-folk Avenue, and Daley and Empire Canyons. You'd be surprised at the projects that could come in that could make or break the city. The hillsides can't handle the development that is being proposed. "And Deer Valley. When it was first presented, I was very attracted to it because of the clustering, planned unit development approach. Then the Park City Golf Course was sold by Royal Street to the resort without covenants to protect it as open space. That put the private residents of the city in an awkward position because they had to fear development. I'm afraid it will happen in Deer Valley. "The open space originally planned there has already been reduced by two thirds. Unless the city makes sure the area is rezoned Recreation Open Space and the land is deeded to the city, the same thing could happen there as happened on the golf course. The much broader problem is there is a lack of public recreation space in Park City. Why not require that land within a subdivision sub-division be set aside for a mini park or open space? In the preliminary review, it could be required that a centrally cen-trally located parcel be set aside to give Park City more tor greenery and a place people to use and enjoy. "A lot of where Park City is headed will depend on future elections and the leadership ability of future administrations. Right now, the philosophy is, continue in the same direction and if it works, it works. But thafs luck and I don't have much confidence in luck. It seems if there are corners to be cut, they're cut. The residents suffer. "But I don't want to say that my experience here has been all bad. On the contrary. con-trary. I feel good about having been here, and I certainly cer-tainly don't think my talents were wasted. 1 felt there were conflicts that just can't be resolved. But 1 think those conflicts are always there when professionally educated people are put into a circumstance where it is a small town with sometimes small town and outdated at titudes. There was disrespect aiui a lack of support and many times my recommendations and suggestions were ignored. "But in the time thai I was here I had set some goals for myself that I feel have been accomplished. Bruce Decker, the City Council and myself put together a first year program lot-redevelopment lot-redevelopment on Main Street; the 64 buildings on Main Street are on the national register, providing further protection against their demolition, and the city officials are more aware of the importance of historic preservation. "I came here wanting to revitalize Main Street and make it into the prime com mercial area and to initiate a planning review process so the Planning Commission could review all impacts ol a project. And I hoped to create public awareness ol planning and how residents could be effective. I'm pleased with the attitude ol the residents who now are coming out and speaking about the inequities, problems and concerns, and demanding answers from the developers. It makes planning more of a social conscience is it best for the residents or the economies'' We're now looking at other things besides short-term economics. "My experience in Park City has been memorable. I've made great friends and have enjoyed working in the mountain environment. But I look forward to new challenges. I've taken a planning job in Beloit. Wisconsin and will be leaving Salt Lake next week. I'm even going to buy a condominium in Beloit something I was never able to do in Park City. As a matter of fact, I had to move to Salt Lake because I couldn't find housing. "I don't at all have a sour grapes attitude. Anyone can take anything for awhile, but after awhile. ..Now I just wish everyone well and look forward to a new life for myself." Pl'iftflft.Witft't'?t'W Ricfiaxd 23. 23axne !Z.l. ujiifizi to announce tfie opening of liii office fox tfie jixatice of family dentiitxij. office, ii located in 3iie Jenta liilc on uenue. 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