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Show f- Livi'l - r', l r f' ttlVlilillUwA .. C-9 V' - a -t C-- i V K t' I Wednesday, November 10, 1976 supplement to the National Enterprise Small Firms Will Butt Heads with Ma Bell Over Pricing by Mary McMillan Gaber Review Staff Writer Mountain Bell is facing determined opposition to two of its proposals before the Public Service Commission. One plan would allow customers to lease, rather than rent, the utilitys new PBX (private switchboard) equipment. The other proposal sets prices for Moutain Bells new computerized PBX system, called Dimension 400. Business Telephone Systems, Business Communication Systems and ITT Terry-phon- e Corp. (private telephone suppliers) are three of the major opponents to Mountain Bells plans. Regarding the new PBX system, Brent Brown, president of Business Telephone, says, We think the prices are too low. They are Regarding the new method for customers to pay for their equipment. Brown It has been declared illegal in says, Colorado and in other states. Enter Parking Business City May North American Telephone Association, a group representing private telephone manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, is sending attorneys to the hearing to help defend the opposing businesses. Mountain Bells new leasing policy, has been applicable to its called Com Key telephones system, a kind of small switchboard, since April, 1975. In October the Utah Public Service Commission told Mountain Bell it could market its new Tela-Leas- e, Dimension 400 PBX with the Tela-Leas- e pricing structure, pending the November 29 hearing. Now Mountain Bell wants to extend e pricing structure to all its new PBX equipment. Tela-Leas- More Expensive Systems ( ry. Outside Lawyer Will Defend Group A public hearing before the Commis- sion, covering the two subjects, has been scheduled to begin November 29. At that time Mountain Bell will defend its new leasing policy and the proposed prices for its new PBX equipment. The smaller, private telephone com- panies are disturbed because they have been selling computerized switchboards like the Dimension 400 for over three years. Brown says. But their systems are more expensive than Mountain Bells model. We know these systems are more expensive than Mountain Bell is selling them for, Brown says. The Bell Systems prices were found to be by Public Service Commissions in other states, even when they were higher than the non-compensat- Salt Lake City Commissioners have applied to the federal government for funding of a public parking terrace in downtown Salt Lake. According to Mike Chitwood, Redevelopment Agency director, the com- missioners have applied for SI. 8 million from the Economic Development Administration, through the newly effective Public Works Employment Act, to build a 380-ca- r parking structure in the interior of Block 69 (bordered by 1st and 2nd South, Main and West Temple streets). The plan calls for demolition of the old Kearns Garage, and construction of a structure behind the Kearns building that could be built in phases, with the eventual capability of housing 1,000 cars. Folson & Hunt, architects, designed the proposed structure. The application for federal funds is one of five sent to Washington this week by the city commission. The ry See FIRMS BA TTLE , page 6b. Government Controls Increase Costs Ordinance Limits Foothill Homes The Salt Lake County planning commission is expected to consider the proposed Hillside Protection Zone ordinance The ordinance would restrict residential this week. development in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains and Emigration Canyon. between the Under the proposed ordinance, developers would be required to limit the number of dwelling units per acre, according to the slope of the hill. It would also encourage clustered housing, rather than the traditional subdivision, in Point-of-the-Mounta- in lower foothills. On slopes of between 15 and 30 percent, only one unit per acre would be allowed. On slopes of between 30 and 50 percent, only .2 units per acre could be built. In addition to limiting the number of dwelling units, the ordinance would require developers to conduct soil tests (including geology and hydrology reports), prepare grading and draining plans, and propose plans to revegetate slopes. The results of these tests and reports would require approval by the county planning commission before construction could begin. Government Meddling Increases Costs Stephen Featherstone, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Salt Lake, said the Association strives to both balance and meet the needs of people and the environment. But w'e believe excessive government control is a factor He said he thinks the in the increased cost of housing. requirements to submit results of tests to the commission before commencing construction could double or triple the time it normally takes to initiate a project. And all that time the developer would have to pay interest on the land being considered, he added. He said he thought the area most vulnerable to the proposed regulations would be Olympus Hills and Cove Point. These lots are still developable, he said, because they are under a 30 percent slope. Guster Dwellings Unappealing In areas under 15 percent slope, cluster housing would be encouraged, under the ordinance. "This type of housing does not appeal to the people who can afford expensive houses, Featherstone said. "And land in the foothills costs over $30,000 an acre. To build only one house on that acre would not be economical. Nobody would do it. What this proposal does, essentially, is eliminate more people from buying homes. William Gordon, associate of Dames & Moore engineering firm, would not entirely agree with Featherstone. Ten Years Too Late "The proposed ordinance is great. It is just 10 years too late, Gordon said. In the long run it will save money for the general public. Gordon said he did not quite understand the require"This may be too ment for housing. See ORDINANCE , page 4b. low-denis- ty city anticipates receiving a total of approximately $2 million from the Economic Development Administration. Notification of fund allocation is expected within 60 days. If the parking structure application were approved, construction w'ould need to begin by April 15, 1977. . Parking Solutions Needed The application for fed- eral funds followed suggestions from the Block 69 Association, headed by Howard Clark, managing partner of Arrow Press Square, that the city help fund a study to determine the blocks parking needs and potential solutions. Part of the Block 69 development plan was to incorporate a parking structure in the block, Howard So we Clark explained. asked the city to help pay for a study that would lead to the development of a parking structure. We were expecting property owners in the block would actually operate the structure, and be assessed by the city for the cost of constructing it. About the application for federal funds to build the I structure, Clark said. think its a reasonable proIt ties in with the ject. Capitol Theatre, the Salt Palace and the whole problem of downtown parking. Its part of urban The Block 69 Association is administered by an executive committee composed of Henry Dinwoodcy of Dinwoodey Furniture, Richard Bennett of Bennett Paint. Doug Shilling, manager of the Kearns Building, and Jim Hogle Jr. and Harold Roberts, erty owners. Jr., prop- 1500 Parking Spaces Lost The Redevelopment Agency has told Association representatives the city could fund half the cost of such a study with money generated from downtown proeprty taxes (what the city See CITY, page 3b. |