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Show VIEWPOINTS A-21 www.parkrecord.com Wed/Thurs/Fri, March 29-31, 2017 EDITORIAL Desperate search for affordable housing could lead to disaster I LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Locals rally support for lung transplant patient Editor: Park City native Riley Hancey was an active, healthy, 19-year-old young man until late November, 2016. Having grown up in the Park City area, he enjoyed skiing, mountain biking, and river rafting. Sadly, that all changed in early December when Riley was admitted to the University of Utah Hospital due to influenza/pneumonia and additional complications that resulted in a severe lung infection. By mid-December his lungs were no longer functioning and he was placed on a life-support system (ECMO) to oxygenate his blood. At that time he was also placed in a medically induced coma for a couple of weeks in the hope that his lungs would recover while the infection was controlled. Unfortunately, by mid-January it was determined that although the infection had abated, Riley’s lungs had been irreversibly damaged and his only option for survival is a lung transplant. In late February, Riley was flown by a medical support jet to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia where he is on the transplant list awaiting the availability of suitable lungs. In the meantime, Riley remains on the life-support system. Throughout his ordeal Riley has managed to stay upbeat and share some smiles, especially with his many visitors while at the University of Utah, despite considerable physical discomfort and being well aware of his circumstances and prognosis. The Hanceys have started a longdistance support effort rotating family members through Philadelphia to provide Riley companionship and emotional support while he awaits a suitable donor organ and during his recovery period after the transplant surgery. The family would like to thank all the medical care providers at the University of Utah, University of Pennsylvania, and the medical transport team for their outstanding level of care and support. The outpouring of love and support from Riley’s friends is also greatly appreciated. A fundraising site at https://www. youcaring.com/rileyhancey-755941 has been established to help the family with travel and lodging expenses. Bruce Glisson Park City Senior citizens lobby for local care facility Editor: I am writing today as a representative of a group of seniors who recently The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER Andy Bernhard Editor Nan Chalat Noaker Staff writers Jay Hamburger Scott Iwasaki Bubba Brown Angelique McNaughton Griffin Adams Contributing writers Tom Clyde Jay Meehan Teri Orr Amy Roberts Steve Phillips Tom Kelly Joe Lair Intern Jessica Curley Emily Billow Copy editor Frances Moody 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 Ben Olson Nadia Dolzhenko Patrick Schulz met with Mayor Jack Thomas to inform him and the Park City Council of their strong desire to have a continuing-care facility established for the citizens of Park City and the Summit County area. Seniors at the meeting stated that, rather than spending their remaining years in some other area, they wish to stay in the city they have contributed to, loved and appreciated. If some physical condition should develop depriving them of their independence, this would not be possible under current circumstances. The appropriateness of having such a facility available for seniors fits well with the city’s stated goals to maintain diversity in the ages of the population of our community. Also, having this type of facility here would be a benefit to many citizens who need rehabilitation after surgery or a serious illness. In past years many groups have expressed interest in this area, but have not been able to accomplish their goal of having it become a reality. The current seniors working on this issue are hoping that with the help of the mayor, city council, and Summit County Commission this goal may become a reality for the benefit of seniors and other citizens in our community. Lorraine Stuecken Park City EpicPromise supports women’s mentoring program Editor: On March 17, Vail EpicPromise hosted Park City Community Foundation’s Mentoring Program and 12 Ecker Hill Middle School girls for a truly memorable day on the mountain. Students paired up with Women’s Giving Fund mentors to experience both fun and enriching activities. Pairs rode the Park City Mountain Coaster before participating in a heartfelt and inspiring workshop by Stacy Ulch of Girls on the Run about living fearlessly and overcoming obstacles. As the girls and their mentors got their heart rates up together, they also shared their hearts. Thank you to all our mentors, Ecker Hill girls, Ginny Etheridge, Compass Property, All Seasons Resorts, and Girls on the Run for your partnership and heartfelt enthusiasm to inspire our future leaders. This event was made possible thanks to a generous contribution by Vail Resorts. The Women’s Giving Fund Mentoring Program, which also includes twelve Power Lunches at Ecker Hill annually, is a direct result of an EpicPromise grant. Women’s Giving Fund includes 1,308 members and distributes a high-impact grant to a nonprofit’s project for women and children each year. The first grant helped found PC Tots, an affordable daycare, and this year provided a safe medical exam space for children of abuse at the Children’s Justice Center. Thank you, Vail Resorts and to our mentors for this enriching program. To become a Women’s Giving Fund member or to be a mentor, you can reach out any time at mentoring@parkcitycf.org. This year’s grant recipient will be announced July 10, 2017. Lauren Vitulli, Mentoring Coordinator Park City Community Foundation A message from our local moose herd Editor: Wednesday’s edition of The Park Record in my driveway appeared to have been read before I picked it up. There were pages ripped, some pages missing, and a suspicious hoof mark. Later, I discovered the editorial page in my back yard. Written clumsily, in green grass stains, was a message which I feel I should transmit to you. “We read a Letter to the Editor about moose and other animals excessively populating this area. We wish to point out that, in fact, some of us were here first. In fact, overpopulation of this area by a species which is a clear invasion n a misguided effort to patch Park City’s affordable housing gap, a pair of property owners put more than two dozen lives at risk. Throughout the winter, the owners of the former Colby School site on State Road 224 rented rooms to seasonal workers, disregarding county fire and building codes. While the workers were probably grateful for a place to crash, they were likely unaware that the owners did not have permits to run a boarding house and the building did not have an adequate fire alarm system. An observant neighbor who reported the situation earlier this month may have helped to avert a disaster. When the Park City Fire District inspected the premises, they found numerous violations of code requirements for multiple-occupancy facilities. Some of those included a lack of emergency exit lighting, smoke detectors that had not been installed and the absence of a commercial fire alarm panel designed to guide emergency responders to the source of a fire in a building with several living units. Had the owners applied for the proper permits, building, fire and health officials would have conducted inspections to ensure the safety of any future tenants. Those are the rules and they are in place for a reason. Last winter’s devastating warehouse fire in Oakland, California is a dramatic example of what can go wrong when health and safety regulations are ignored. At the same time that workers in Park City were pulling shifts at the ski areas and bunking at the Colby School, a loose collective of artists was shacking up in an old warehouse in Oakland. Like their counterparts in Park City, they were shut out of a tight and expensive housing market and fell into what they probably believed was a lucky find -- cheap housing in a vacant building offered by a landlord who was willing to dodge local ordinances. On Dec. 2, the building caught fire and 36 people -- including a young musician who grew up in Park City -- were unable to escape. An investigation following the blaze revealed that Oakland officials may have been negligent in following up on numerous complaints about the living conditions at the warehouse. In addition to the tragic loss of life, as well as the trauma to friends and family, the warehouse property owners and Oakland officials may yet be held liable for the incident. The comparison may seem melodramatic but the parallels are clear. The Colby School tenants were given a grace period to find alternate housing and will be moving out this weekend. And, in an effort to be proactive rather than punitive, the Park City Fire District worked with the property owners to fix the fire alarm system in the interim. It is unclear whether the property owners will be fined for violating local ordinances, although they should be held accountable in some way for putting the employees and Summit County at risk. Given the community’s ongoing affordable housing challenges, it is incumbent on city and county officials to not only find ways to support new employee housing projects but to strictly enforce local health and safety regulations to prevent misuse of existing spaces. GUEST EDITORIAL Resident takes issue with Basin planning board decision STEVE DOWLING Park City The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation for a Low Impact Permit to Pat Putt (Community Development Director) last week, before hearing all of the facts. The lot size is over 12 acres and they opted for a building envelope on top of the lot that allows the structure to break ridgeline by nearly 20 feet. There are other material facts — listed below — staff and commission should consider before giving a recommendation on this Low Impact Permit. It is important to analyze all facts and all concerns before taking a vote. At the 03.14.17 commission meeting, the professional engineer was not allowed to discuss alternate driveway design — which would have enriched the dialogue if the commission allowed it during the meeting, as they said they would at the beginning of the meeting. The planner on this project mentioned other properties in the area that have applied for a LIP and received permits, perhaps for comparison purposes in the meetings. However, the other neighbors (to the North) the LIP was for a remodel/ additions to an existing structure and was never built. Moreover, existing structures have different requirements than a LIP for new development. The other neighbor (to the West) applied for a LIP for a three-sided barn for horses, not a dwelling. Most importantly, the structure does not break the ridgeline. These two comparisons staff has used in recent discussions are not relevant. Another discussion point that should have been properly vetted in the meetings is the TZO. There is a TZO (Temporary Zoning Ordinance) — countywide grading ordinance discussion involving new development. This is relevant discussion that would be applicable to this LIP review and not discussed at all by the commission or the staff during the meetings. Further, there is an anticipated road connection between of habitat, is disturbing to us. While we appreciate some of this species — especially those who thoughtfully plant tulips and other yummy things for us. The fact is that the new residents of our landscape are much too frequently fatal to us. For example, we used to easily traverse a small section of hard pavement to get from Quarry Mountain to our favorite stream by what seems now to be known as a “White Barn.” Now, that place has become a death trap for us; it’s really wide, and also, we have difficulty judging the absurd speed and maneuvers of brick-shaped metal thingies. In addition, it is difficult for us to move around our territory. There are “decorative” fences we have to jump over, and we have to walk around things like garden sheds and swing sets. What’s this all about? All of this laudable “growth” is a pain for us. Above all, what’s with all the mini-wolves you keep, which like to chase us around? As we said, we were here first. Give us some room!” I can’t quite make out the signatures on this note: it looks something like “Buck, Bambi, and Bullwinkle.” Alan Agle Park City Sundance’s ‘Dolores’ is part of Park City’s winter of wow Editor: This past winter has been a memorable one. We received snow like we’ve not seen in nearly a decade and experienced a Film Festival that brought us some truly inspirational films. Thanks to Sundance, our small town is the benefi- Silver Creek and Bitner Road that is already funded in Summit County’s capital road improvement budget — not discussed by the staff or the commission during the meetings. If discussed properly and fairly, the road connection could provide a plausible solution for this LIP application. Moreover, the applicant is required to apply for a variance because the total area of disturbance is greater than 20,000 square feet. Applying for a variance in the Ridgeline Overlay Zone (ROZ) is ludicrous. Historical facts: 1. Prior to purchasing the vacant lot, the applicant inquired to Summit County about possible building areas on the lot. 2. County staff at that time made it very clear that building of a new structure is prohibited anywhere near the top of the lot; ridgeline overlay zone (ROZ). 3. Adjacent neighbors to this lot had to follow the rules of the Low Impact Permit process when requesting a building permit on their lots. There was not any belabored discussion about it, with a staff report and work session, and public hearing – they followed the rules and built the structure where permissible. 4. Driveways to access these neighboring structures, while not ideal, were long to comply with the rules and the process in place. The Low Impact Permit process has not changed since that time. 5. Any new development on important ridgelines would result in a very bad precedent for Summit County. 6. One could ask, “What area in the county is next?” 7. All ridgelines in and around the Park City area would be in jeopardy and result in greater pressure for new development throughout the Summit County, creating negative impacts to visitors and residents alike. Please contact Pat Putt directly at pputt@summitcounty. org, or (435)336 3124, to express your concern over this issue. Request that he reviews all of the facts before rendering any decisions on the Low Impact Permit application that will allow a new structure to break ridgeline. ciary of a world-class event that puts the focus of the world on us, albeit briefly. The Women’s March on Main Street was a particularly large event that benefited from the presence of the Festival. In the film “Dolores,” we were reminded that social justice knows no age boundaries, as the 86-year-old protagonist was marching down the streets of Park City that snowy Saturday morning alongside thousands of others, then attending the premiere of the movie that showcases her work. Dolores Huerta is an example of a relatively unknown champion, who was brought to light thanks to the work of one dedicated filmmaker. Sundance provided a platform for this story to be told to several hundreds, both locals and visitors, at several venues throughout the festival. The Sundance Institute was able to invite a representatives from a diverse cohort of agencies to attend a community screening, included but not limited to Bright Futures, People’s Health Clinic, and the Park City Community Foundation. I am grateful for being allowed to watch this film as it has affected how I approach work in the community we all love. Diego Zegarra Park City Park City should invest in parking, not pools Editor: Who needs a $38.8 million aquatic center? How many people would it serve? How about a locals-only parking lot and ski lift that brings you to PCMR and back. The town/county could buy property and build a multi-story parking lot and a two way (up/down) ski lift that connects to PCMR. This would serve more locals than an aquatic center. After all, most of us moved here to ski, not swim. I know which way I would want my tax dollars spent. How about you? Stuart Goldner Park City Like the DUI law, Utah should take more ideas from socialist Europe Editor: Well, it’s official. Our Utah Legislature and governor have now passed the strictest DUI law in the country, based in part upon how well it works in Europe. This was unexpected, as I thought we inherently distrusted or dismissed anything coming out of socialistic European society. I stand corrected. With our elected officials’ newfound admiration for Europe’s leadership, here are other areas they might want to consider: • Expanded public transportation into the late night hours • Universal health care • Free or low cost secondary education • Professional pay for school teachers • 30 – 40 days of paid vacation per year • 100 or more days of paid maternity leave • Alternative energy production • Recycling programs Let’s hear it for the EU! Ted Palomaki Silver Springs |