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Show . ... .Page A2 a Thursday, September 7, 1995 The Park Record D Section A n jr. Peterson continues to ; by NAN CIIALAT-NOAKER ;'. Record staff writer r According to Amanda Peterson, community recreation facilities are -"snore than an amenity, they are a L Jhecessity. For the last ten years Peterson has been leading the charge Z- to expand Park City's, and now Z-jSnyderville's, recreation options. I 3This week she is on the battlefront Z 2 again, lobbying government officials - and appealing to residents to support Z a bond to buy and develop playing ;' fields in the Snydcrville Basin. Watching Peterson march from 2 meeting to meeting with masterplans Z- in hand is a familiar sight. Only the location has changes. In the 1970s the Memorial Building and City "- Park were her focus. Later she -r helped to orchestrate the city's pur-;-".chase of the Racquet Club. Now ; "Peterson is on the soap box, beseech-C' beseech-C' ing residents and county officials to C, set aside space in Snyderville for -recreation, trails and open space -before it is too late and all of the , available property is gone. It all began, she says, with a cru-T'sade cru-T'sade to fill the void left when the city ! Sold the Memorial Building to a pri-'. pri-'. vate developer. T - . In the early 1970s when Peterson Nland her family first moved to Park ,' ity from Salt Lake she remembers, ;-;"The Memorial Building was the I main recreation center for the com Vote to decide future of Basin !; continued from A1 '. the issue at the regular Aug. 22 meeting, it has ' agreed to support the bond election. On election night, before the returns are counted, . Superintendent Dr. Don Fielder will recommend ; ! the school board pass the resolution. ;l Jeremy Ranch resident Kurt Repanshek was not swayed by the proposed drawing of the park. ; ' "What about seasonality?" he asked. "Why don't '. we have any year-round facilities?" In response. Board Member Amanda Peterson said the board prioritized the facilities as deter-. deter-. mined from surveys. "We are not putting in a closed facility in the first phase," Peterson said. "Maybe in the second phase. You have to remem- ber this is not written in stone." But Repanshek continued, "$5 million seems like an awful lot to spend for this project. We ; have the highest per capita income in Utah. This ; should be postponed and there should be a new ; survey." In support of the board. Park City Leisure Services Director Bob Johnston said, "It's frus- trating when you're told to go back. They have been working on this for three years. They don't lave a professional staff. It's a great plan. And a reat job," he said. At the close of the first meeting Chairman J4ike Nielsen reiterated the "control our own des-jiny des-jiny theme" when he said, "All of us should have Jieen here 30 years ago. There have been 30 years Park City says it's not ter plan, noted several citizens ho addressed the commission. "Changing it from a bank to a fstauiant because they can't find Anybody interested in the other fared doesn't matter," said citizen Melissa Briley. "I have a car I Can't sell but I don't think you can Eelp me vith that. Being able to nd a tenant is not a reason to hange the plan." Briley said she was also concerned con-cerned about placing the restaurant 6 close to the schools. "There is a reason fast food places try to build close to schools with open campuses," said Briley. IWe don't need another fast food place. Z- Resident Roger Strand noted it Bad been said that "Park City is not J McDonald's town." "Generally these buildings (McDonald's) are just gross," said Sjrand. "I don't think they have Having a 'ruff' time: Stolen dog leads owners on cross-country chase continued from A1 malamute." ' 1; The boy who drifted in and out of employment and in and out of Park City had told his sister he was leaving leav-ing town for a new job. For those who knew him, the boy would probably prob-ably be back in town soon, with or without the dog. ; Denise Simpkins, a neighbor of the Baltzans who knew the boy and was familiar with such episodes, became involved. She talked to the boy and got his phone number but the area code turned out to be 402, or Nebraska. To check, Simpkins called the number back and the boy answered. . The Baltzans realized then, all the posters in town, let alone in Utah, were useless. Mingo was far away. ; Later, while David was consulting Sjmpkins the phone rang and it was the boy again. Still he denied taking the dog even though Simpkins told him Mingo was an older dog, on a special diet and in need of medica munity and it served the purpose well," she said recalling the ballet classes, basketball games and cub scout meetings held there. "That was where the center of activity was." But the city was evolving in several sev-eral ways. The population base was moving away from Old Town. The elementary school had moved off Marsac Avenue and Main Street was becoming more oriented toward tourists and nightlife. At the same time, the city's need for recreation was increasing and architects were saying that the Memorial Building, which had been constructed as a concrete fire break on Main Street, could not be upgraded. So the city sold the Memorial Building with a promise to find a new home for all of those community activities. "A lot of people in the community communi-ty were upset at the time because there was nothing to replace the Memorial Building," Peterson said, adding that was when she began to work on plans to renovate City Park. At the time, she laughs, a certain city councilman was worried that residents might tear up the new lawn at City Park so he was "very resistant" resis-tant" to letting anyone play there. "He was afraid they would tear up the grass." Peterson, along with former city council members women Tina Lewis and Helen Alvarez, however, were able to get the councilman to loosen of bad planning trying to play catch up." The Sept. 5 meeting, carried live on KPCW, yielded more interest from the community by callers who could phone in their questions. Board Member Pace Erickson, as he pointed out the important areas on the park drawing, posed a question. "Can you imagine New York without Central Park? Aren't you glad somebody had the foresight to plan it?" Erickson went on to mention Softball and soccer soc-cer fields, trails hard and soft-paved tennis courts, volleyball courts, "passive areas" where one can do nothing, a' park office and two pavilions pavil-ions for family reunions and meetings. "You know," he said, "there are no places to meet at in Snyderville unless you want to go to Denny's." Erickson also mentioned the possibility of hosting volleyball tournaments since, he claims, ESPN is looking at Park City for such events. Resident Jeff Kaiser asked the board about the timetable should the bond pass. "We're hoping to start digging in the spring," said Graham. "We will also have a series of public hearings." It is the hope of the board that if the land acquisition acqui-sition goes smoothly and there aren't any major construction delays, use of the park could start the following spring. "It's hard to say," Erickson said. "Stuff doesn't grow very fast up here." Another resident, Tom Carlson who called in, asked about the intensity of lights at night. Erickson said they hadn't planned on lights but the visual quality Park City is trying try-ing to maintain. Fast food belongs in the interstate and the inner city and not in Park City and certainly not next to the cemetery." Randy Keough from the McDonald's Corporation tried to ease the minds of his opponents and pointed out that those at the meeting may not like the McDonald's but there were other fast food restaurants already here. "You say Park City is not a McDonald's town but does that mean is it a Hardees town? Is it a Subway town or Pizza Hut town?" asked Keough. "You have our competition here." Keough also noted that there are McDonald's restaurants in Vail, Aspen and other ski towns. "They provide employment for . the locals and tourists like a place they can go to and are familiar with already," said Keough. "As for the people in the cemetery, I tion. The boy said he had returned the dog to Main Street Tuesday night, but that contradicted his sister's sis-ter's statement, and the Baltzans knew he was lying. Simpkins said the boy was nonviolent. nonvi-olent. "It was probably the spontaneity spontane-ity that made him do it," she said. In the meantime, David filed a police report with the Park City Police. Even though they had the phone number, the police were unable to get the address. David then called the operator in Neb. and asked what town the number was in. She said it was Sutton, Nebraska and' Baltzan started working with the police' there. However, Simpkins obtained an address from the boy so "she could send him things," but according to Officer Dick Fringer who was a dog lover and was now on the case, no such address existed. Since it was a small town, Fringer maintained he could find the dog. Later, Fringer called to tell the lead recreation charge up and they undertook a major overhaul over-haul at the park. Today, City Park is bursting at the seams. Before the smoke had cleared from the controversy over the Memorial Building, Peterson was already taking on a new project. The tennis courts at the privately owned Park Meadows Racquet Club were falling into disrepair. The property was in receivership and rumors were that it was going to be converted into a restaurant. Peterson swung into action. "I love tennis. There was a group of about three of us who decided to start a committee to save the Racquet Club and it grew to more than 150 overnight." Peterson remembers, members of the committee commit-tee went to fanner Mayor Hal Taylor and said, "You gotta help us with this." As a result Peterson, along with Taylor and former City manger Arlcne Loble Monday Nov. 9, 1987, drove over to Coalville to the Sheriff's Auction where the Racquet Club was to be sold to the highest bidder. To their surprise and delight, the group from Park City was the only bidder and they walked away with the property for $450,000. But according to Peterson, her work was not finished. Loble convinced con-vinced her to lead a bond effort to renovate the facility. Actually, Peterson confides, it was sort of a a 'McDonald's town' don't think they really care what is there anymore." Keough received a round of boos and hisses from the crowd but continued his comments, saying say-ing McDonald's is a good corporate corpo-rate citizen, the franchise would be locally owned and the chain was genuinely interested in coming to Park City. Commissioner Joe Tesch noted that the crowd was perhaps hasty in its dismissal of the applicant. "I am voting against this because of traffic issues and they are issues that can't be overcome. But, I think they applicant tried hard and did a nice job," said Tesch. "I think there is even a McDonald's on the Champs -Elysees. They do a nice job and they are good corporate citizens and I think we need to be a little more careful with our comments." While no one but Keough spoke in favor of the project, Planning Baltzans that a pickup truck fitting the description given in Park City had been pulled over and the driver, the boy's friend, was ticketed for driving dri-ving on a suspended license. David asked if he could speak to the arresting arrest-ing officer and if there had been a dog in the bed of the truck. But the officer was out of town until Monday night. Late Friday afternoon, with time ticking away, Simpkins called the Baltzans with a corrected address. With it, Fringer staked out. In the yard, in the dark, he saw Mingo. On Saturday morning, Fringer called the Baltzans and told them what he had seen, but he needed proof it was Mingo and proof the Baltzans were the owners. David faxed the officer proof of ownership including medical invoices from White Pine Veterinary Clinic, pictures pic-tures of Mingo and himself and a description of the dog missing tooth, eye infection in his right eye and two extra toes on both back bribe. Loble threatened to convert two of the tennis courts into basketball basket-ball courts unless Peterson helped with the bond effort. The ensuing public hearings, about how the city's newly acquired property should be used, drew some of the biggest crowds in the city's history. The Racquet Club, now run as a public recreation facility by the city, has already been expanded to keep up with increases in demand for activities. Now Peterson is at it again, pressing press-ing for commitments for open space, trails and recreation facilities in the Basin. She jokes that "the only park in the Snydcrville Basin right now is the tot lot at the Factory Stores. And we just don't think that's enough." Peterson is adamant that county residents deserve quality recreation options. "For me, quality of life is centered around my ability to do more than just work. It is so important impor-tant that we develop more than just streets and houses. It's part of the health, safety and welfare of the residents. res-idents. Recreation weaves the fabric of the community." If all goes according to plan, a majority of residents in the Snyderville Basin will side with Peterson during Tuesday's bond election and if the past is any indication, indica-tion, the resulting park will be full to capacity before the turn of the century. play lands they hoped to have the utilities in for future expansion. "Light pollution is a real issue," he said. "Modern field lights are amazing. You can control the light. We would do everything we can to mitigate it." Still other residents wondered about other, more expensive facilities. To answer Kathy Higginson's question about a swimming pool, Board Member Sharon Odell said, "It would cost $2 to $3 million. Since it's not in the plans we would have to go back to the voters. If the public really wants a pool then we will," Odell said. Where the inter-local agreement would be useful, use-ful, according to the board, is perhaps helping finance the pool for the new middle school, and with adult lockers the community could also use the facility at a much lower cost. Perhaps, as one subcommittee member Dr. Mike Andrews hopes, an ice sheet for ice skating and hockey could be gained through a similar arrangement. In closing Peterson said, "What would it cost you to join a private facility in Salt Lake? What if the value of your home and property with the park will increase? I am terribly worried we may not have anything for the future." Ken Mitchie, the board's bond council and vice president of Zions Bank public finance, told The Record, "They are what the founding fathers of this country had intended," referring to the board. "Everyday people getting involved in their community." Commissioner Alison Child stated the fact that a McDonald's restaurant restau-rant was being considered for the site should make no difference to the commission. Child noted that whatever personal feelings of the audience regarding McDonald's, the commissioners had to make a decision based only on planning criteria. "In relationships opposites may attract, but in planning they don't," said Child. "I can't imagine imag-ine being in favor of a high-use, high-traffic volume restaurant next to a cemetery." Child said the bank was approved because there was no drive-in and it would generate virtually vir-tually no traffic on the weekends. The commission denied the proposal pro-posal citing among other considerations consider-ations traffic issues, parking, proximity prox-imity to the cemetery and the building's incompatibility with Park City design guidelines. paws. Late Saturday afternoon, Fringer called and said he had detained the dog and taken him to another town where he was being cared for by a local veterinarian. Fringer said the word in town was that, over the last two days, the boys had been trying to sell Mingo. David made arrangements to pick up Mingo Monday morning and drove 860 miles. In Sutton, Baltzan had words with the boy and told him that if he entered Utah again, he would be arrested. On the long trip home, David said the dog didn't act himself quiet and withdrawn. For Mingo the trauma still lingered lin-gered after he returned home and he refused to eat for several days. Lately Mingo has stayed near the house and, as far as the Baltzans know, the boy has stayed away. "I guess Mingo was kind of bummed," Lynne said, as she looked at the dog asleep on the porch. Eye on Park City ,t - k'LvJ - - I Jess Reid and Jackie Harwood, of Rpcf rf )ess Reid Real Estate, stroll down Ul the ane jyng park city,s annuaj 'Dkfircif Miner's DaY parade. "Jess Weed r dVVdUe weal Estate" tied for first in the Best of Parade category. Tollgate Canyon cabin owners face off with year-rounders continued from A1 says, "In the winter, the roads are our playground." But to some of the longtime seasonal sea-sonal cabin owners, the Mackays represent the beginning of unwelcome unwel-come changes to their summer getaways. get-aways. Aside from the general increase in development and traffic within the subdivision they are worried wor-ried that the new residents may begin to demand a higher level of services which could increase their homeowners home-owners association dues and their taxes. The conflict is likely to come to a head at a special meeting of the property prop-erty owners Sept. 27. According to Pine Meadows Homeowners Association President Gary Bangerter, plans are to shut off the water this winter. That has the Mackays, and others, up in arms. Bangerter says, there is no way around it. "The reality is, we just don't have the means to do it" With about 54 people planning to spend next winter living in the canyon, Bangerter says the current water system sys-tem "cannot provide for that many people full time." The system is approved as a "noncommunity water system" which is not required to meet the same standards as a municipal munici-pal system. Upgrading the system, he says, would be expensive "and that's not fair to make the part-time residents res-idents subsidize the full timers." Bangerter is a plumber by trade and in his spare time maintains the Pine Meadows water system and runs the homeowners group. He has owned a cabin in the canyon for ten years but lately he hasn't been able to enjoy his visits there. With more people peo-ple moving in, there are more maintenance main-tenance and administrative duties. "We are just part-time officers up there. We are burning ourselves out and this is supposed to be my getaway." get-away." As an interim measure the association associ-ation recently set a cap of 15 building permits per year. Bangerter admits the situation is reminiscent of problems encountered in Summit Park ten years ago when an explosion in growth outstripped the capacity of the water system. Property owners there are still paying large assessments to upgrade the water system, and those who want to build homes in Summit Park are V 0 : , - Mingo takes a well-deserved snooze after his cross-country adventure. ;fcfrt$ Photo by David Bertinelli placed on a waiting list. In the meantime, the Mackays and other realtors in town are seeing a big demand for the Pine Mountain lots. The Mackays, however, say they are careful to disclose that the roads are not maintained by the county and are not plowed, the water system may freeze in the winter, fire protection may be a problem and there is no telephone service (except cellular reception). "We tell people there are no plans to change anything...We are very specific that we don't recommend recom-mend living up there. I would never say, buy this on the assumption it will be plowed someday," said John Mackay who provides a written fact sheet about the limited services to every potential buyer. But according to Mackay, the water system has been left on for the last two winters and there is no reason rea-son to shut it off now, except to discourage dis-courage the new full-time residents. The shut-off, he says, is being instigated insti-gated by a few long-time cabin owners own-ers who "are a little frightened by change." But Mackay wants to reassure reas-sure them saying , "The bottom line is we don't want more services. We want it the way it is." Still, Bangerter worries, people don't know they are buying property that is not designed for full-time use. Excluding the Mackays, Bangerter is convinced some realtors are misleading mislead-ing buyers into thinking Pine Meadows is destined to be a year-round year-round community with regular county coun-ty services. "Some of those buying property up there are young people who can't afford to live anywhere else. It's a way to get into a home and respect that but there are a lot of problems." Among those, in addition to the water system, are the roads which are not built to county standards, limited parking along the freeway exit during the winter, and fire protection which, according to Park City Fire Chief Kelly Gee, is a serious concern. Because the subdivision does not fall into any one fire district it relies on the state's wildland fire district and volunteers for assistance. Those and other issues will be discussed dis-cussed at the September meeting and, according to Bangerter, some residents resi-dents are ready to file a class action law suit if the conflicts can't be resolved. |