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Show VIEWPOINTS A-25 www.parkrecord.com Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, August 27-30, 2016 EDITORIAL Park City and Summit County Councils crave citizen input M GUEST EDITORIAL County leadership needs to take a stand against helicopters CELESTE RAFFIN, MD Park City The attitude towards development in Park City reminds me of the stereotype of the young high school girl who wants to be popular with the boys so she lets them have their way with her thinking that if she shares her favors with them they will like and respect her. We all know how that works out. As a 30-plus-year resident of Park City I have seen this beautiful place cave again and again to the whims of the developers. We’ve lost our ridgelines, allowed high-rise hotels, lost trails to gated communities, and allowed behemoth second, third, and fourth homes to sprout up like mushrooms all over our mountainsides. Time and time again our planners and leaders choose the whims of the developers and “part time Parkites” over the desires and well being of the people who actually live and work here. We are so worried that if we don’t jump in lockstep with the newest craze suggested by the developers that the tourists will somehow all decide not to come here anymore. We have forgotten that what brings them here is what brought us here; the climate and the The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER Andy Bernhard Editor Nan Chalat Noaker Staff writers Jay Hamburger Scott Iwasaki Adam Spencer Bubba Brown Angelique McNaughton Contributing writers Tom Clyde Jay Meehan Teri Orr Amy Roberts Steve Phillips Tom Kelly Joe Lair Interns Grace Schulz Jessica Curley Copy editor Jeff Dempsey ADVERTISING Classified advertising Jennifer Lynch Office manager Tiffany Rivera Circulation manager Lacy Brundy Accounting manager Jennifer Snow Advertising director Valerie Spung Advertising sales Lori Gull Jodi Hecker Erin Donnelly Lisa Curley Photographer Tanzi Propst Production director April Hendrix Production Nadia Dolzhenko Ben Olson Patrick Schulz incredible beauty of the mountains and the basin. The newest atrocity coming down the pike is the idea of allowing the use of helicopters for non-emergency transportation in and out of this valley. Really?? The idea that the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission is actually considering allowing this type of helicopter traffic in the Snyderville Basin is mind blowing. I can think of NO good or compelling reason to allow people to commute in and out this valley via helicopter. But I CAN think of a lot of good reasons NOT to allow it. 1. Environmentally Irresponsible: Our livelihood depends on ski traffic. If you believe in global warming and you want to keep skiing, it would make sense to try to do everything you can to cut down on carbon. Helicopters generate three to five times the carbon of a car. 2. Traffic: helicopters will not improve traffic and congestion in the Basin. I don’t believe that helicopters will ever be allowed to land in the town of Park City. People traveling into town via helicopter will land in the basin and then drive in and out of town, so no improvement in traffic here. 3. Helicopters Crash: Yes cars crash too. But helicopters fly over us, and when they go down everyone and everything in the flight path can become collateral damage. 4. Helicopters make a lot of noise: Don’t think so? Go out to the Park City Hospital some time. Stand the 100 feet away that the planning commission thinks is OK for a helicopter to land from a residence, and listen to a helicopter land and take off. It’s loud. Stop and listen the next time you hear a helicopter fly over the Basin. You can hear them from miles away. It’s not a big deal when its one every couple of days. But now imagine hearing this all day long. I get it. Park City and the surrounding Snyderville Basin is an amazingly beautiful place. People want to come here. In one way or another all of our livelihoods depend on the tourist trade. People want to move here and we cannot close the door on them. But we CAN control the way we grow and develop and we don’t have to allow unnecessary, unsafe, and incredibly annoying modes of transportation like helicopters that add no conceivable benefit and will markedly detract from the quality of life here. I urge all of the citizens of Park City and the Snyderville Basin to raise your voices, contact the Summit County Council, and in the words of Nancy Regan, JUST SAY NO to the use of helicopters for non-emergency transportation in our valley. For the record ost people pay scant attention to public meeting notices, and even those who do — unless they serve on a particular board or commission — often say they are too busy to spend long afternoons or evenings attending city or county planning commission and council meetings. That is, until a helicopter shuttle service sets up camp in the field next to their houses, or a backhoe arrives to start digging a foundation for a multiplex in one of the last open spaces in the neighborhood, or their tax bill arrives with a new line item — or two. Then the fireworks go off: angry calls are placed to local officials, lawyers are retained and the newspaper editor’s inbox gets slammed with angry letters. In most cases, the elected officials being maligned with accusations of mismanagement or hidden agendas are the same ones who were pleading for public input a few months earlier. It doesn’t have to be that way. Right now, local citizens have several opportunities to determine the outcome of at least three critical policy decisions. The Park City Council is soliciting input on plans for city-owned property adjacent to the library field on Park Avenue and on a separate issue is asking for written comments,-- for or against -- its $25 million Bonanza Flats General Obligation Bond. The Summit County Council is asking for comments for and against two proposed tax increases for transportation improvements. And, the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission is taking input on a proposed new ordinance regulating helicopter shuttle services. Don’t say they didn’t ask first. The Park City Council is weighing the merits of building much-needed affordable housing against the negative impacts (including parking conflicts)that come with adding higher density projects in the heart of the city. As of Thursday, council members were leaning toward an option calling for 12 residential units with less parking but more common area. However they are hoping for more definitive direction from residents at an open house to be held Sept. 20, from 5-7 p.m. at the Park City Library. In the meantime, the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission is incorporating the input they received last week into a new ordinance that reflects residents’ complaints about helicopter shuttle services invading their neighborhoods. The commissioners want to limit private and commercial helicopter uses in the Basin but they are still debating whether to allow exceptions for special events. The Summit County Council will get a chance to review the commission’s recommended ordinance next week and residents are invited to add their comments at a public hearing this coming Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. at the Sheldon Richins Building. As to everyone’s mounting concerns about traffic, the Summit County Council, with support from the Park City Council, has decided to put two tax initiatives on November’s ballot. Both would generate money to fund transportation improvements aimed at reducing traffic congestion. Funds generated by the mass transit and county option sales taxes would come out of residents and visitors pockets but could substantially mitigate the projected impacts of new development and the growing tourism economy. But whether the taxes will be implemented and how they would be spent will be up to voters. Right now, the Summit County clerk is soliciting written arguments both in favor of and against the taxes for the official voter information pamphlet and there will be at least two public hearings on the issue between the end of September and Election Day. Overall, Park City and Summit County residents are well informed and very vocal. And even though they are very busy, their elected representatives are counting on them to participate in what may be watershed decisions about the future. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Land Conservancy says ‘thank you’ Editor: Last week the Summit Land Conservancy hosted a Hops Hunter Hike, collaborated with Mountain Trails Foundation on a Moon Shine event in Round Valley, signed a cooperative agreement with the federal government that allocates over $1.2 million for land conservation here in Summit County, and made an offer to purchase a critical piece of property to save it from development. None of this would be possible without the support of the incredibly generous Park City community. The second annual Blue Sky Bash also took place last week, raising money to make local land conservation possible. Thank you to our hosts, for the beautiful venue and professional staff at the Blue Sky Ranch. High West Distillery provided their famous libations and food. Corporate sponsors, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Fidelity Investments, Intermountain Healthcare, Vail Epic Promise, and Parallel Wines ensured that more dollars from the event go directly to land conservation. We’re grateful to the local businesses that donated services and auction items. The event was a huge success thanks to our indefatigable Board members, dedicated volunteers, and the elegant and savvy women on our soiree committee. Mostly, we are grateful for all the people who got into the spirit of the party, played with squirt guns, admired the hawks, and gave generously to save the local lands that nurture us all. Cheryl Fox Executive Director, Summit Land Conservancy More tips for travelers Editor: I would like to add my comments to the article written by Grace Schulz in the Aug. 10-12 issue about students traveling abroad to study. Having organized and run hundreds of ski trips all over the U.S., Europe, and Canada, I advise my participants to make copies of the picture page of their passport which also has your passport number, name, and birthdate. Also, make a copy of your driver’s license and two credit cards, writing the customer service number on the copy (the International Customer Service number if traveling outside the U.S.). Then, email those copies to yourself and a family member not on the trip. It makes it so much easier to replace quickly if the items are lost or stolen. Most hotels and post offices in Europe have computers you can use to pull up and print that information. Kitty Imdahl Park City HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act Editor: Here are some startling statistics: Only half of those with Alzheimer’s disease have ever been diagnosed. Among those who have been diagnosed, only 33 percent have been told of the diagnosis by their doctor. Can you imagine if someone living with cancer or heart disease hadn’t been told of their diagnosis? In fact more than 95 percent are told. People living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers deserve to not only know of the diagnosis, but understand the resources and options available to them to ensure quality of life. A bill is currently before Congress to address this grave concern. The HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act has broad bipartisan support in Congress, including Utah’s Representatives Chris Stewart and Jason Chaffetz. This act would ensure healthcare providers are educated about diagnosing all types of dementia, and provide for care planning to given to patients and their caregivers. Let’s make sure that people we care about who are living with dementia aren’t left in the dark and receive the quality care they deserve. I call upon Representatives Rob Bishop and Mia Love and Senators Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee to join in supporting the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act. Ronnie Daniel, Executive Director Alzheimer’s Association, Utah Chapter Photos by Tanzi Propst Asked at Park City High School How has high school been different for you so far? Sam Peterson Student Jake Hultberg Student Julie Hooker Teacher Gabby Rockwood Student Ben Agnew Student River Hancey Student “There’s lots more space and way better buildings.” “There are different floors, more stairs and more space.” “The leadership here is very respectful and supportive.” “There are lots more people and more hallways.” “Just being able to be around my upper-class friends is nice.” “The size of the building space… there are different floors and not just two hallways.” See these photos and more by following The Park Record on Facebook.com/parkrecord. |