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Show THE ZEPHYR AUGUST 1990 PAGE 4 The Kokopelli Theatre a viable proposal or pie-inthe-sk- y? by jim stiles Recently the University of Utah, In conjunction with the Bureau of Land Management, announced plans to construct a $9.5 million theatre complex on the Sand Flats Road adjacent to the Slick Rock Bike Trail. The multi-pha- se project Includes an outdoor In of an a the stars for astronomical outdoor theatre theatre the round, amphitheatre, center. an The arts year-rouenclosed programs and price tag would be paid performing for by $6 million in federal funding and the remainder from matching funds. The news of the planned facility came as something of a surprise to most Moab residents who knew little If anything about the theatre complex. In a February 1, 1990 story In the Moab "the possibility of construction of a large natural amphitheatre was mentioned but nothing was described that came close to the scope of the project as It emerged five months later. In February the BLM prepared an Environmental Assessment for a land withdrawal under the Recreation and Public Purpose Act (R&PP) which allows the Bureau to reclassify public lands so that a government entity can apply to utilize that land "for the public purpose. In this case, the BLM withdrew 368 acres adjacent to the Sllckrock Bike Trail head. Area manager, Brad Palmer, signed the EA In April and after public notices were run In the TH, the R&PP withdrawal went Into effect 60 days later. A veil of secrecy fell over the project In the late spring and early summer. Jack Campbell, a contributing writer to the Zeohvr who has closely followed the theatre's progress expressed concern that the public was being left out of the decision -- making process. When I attempted to collect Information and clarify some of the rumors that were circulating, I was met by a stonewall. The BLM claimed It could not discuss certain aspects of the proposal, and In an Impromptu conversation with Geoffrey Panos of the U of U, he could only say, "We will tell you when we are ready. I was not even sure who "we" were, and Mr. Panos refused to enlighten me. But he did assure me that the scope of the project was In Its earliest stages the talk stage and that there would be plenty of time for public participation. nd non-fede- ral Tlmes-lndepend- ent talk stage. In fact, the Action Apparently, the process had Indeed gone beyond the Plans May 1990 date was a full month before my conversation with Mr. Panos. Two weeks to late, Senator Jake Gam and Representative Wayne Owens Introduced legislation set aside It $6 million for the establishment of a Kokopelli National Theatre of the Aits. appeared that Its of existence. knew before steam anyone the proposal was developing a head of Of concern to the University and to the BLM was the existence of nine parcels of state land In the Sand Hate area. In order to proceed with the theatre plan, both the U of U and the BLM felt that these parcels of land should be dealt with In a way that would not lead to overdevelopment and exploitation of the area. The BLM Initiated the paperwork that In might eventually lead to the transfer of those state sections to the Bureau, exchange for to proceed Board State Land authorized the Governor And Bangerter property elsewhere. In good faith to complete the transfer of those lands. But there Is a built-i- n Catch-2- 2 to the attempted land exchange as acknowledged by Doug Fullmer of the Moab State Lands Office. They are mandated with the responsibility of producing maximum revenues from those lands for the State School Trust If the theatre complex appears to be a viable plan, what does It do to the value of the State sections? Obviously, It makes the value go up substantially, and gives the State Land Office a great deal of leverage In bargaining for other lands. As Mr. Fullmer said, "The BLM had better be with property equal In value? very cooperative. What If the BLM falls to counter-off- er fall to deal could Fullmer the through. Presently those lands have been According withdrawn for 18 months, but so far there Is no assurance that their transfer will take place. What of the theatre complex Itself? Are we likely to see one of the largest and most expensive projects In recent history unfold on the Sand Flats above Moab? Last week I spoke to Scott Kearin, an aid to Congressman Wayne Owens, who has worked closely with the University's plans. Scott Kearin: rfBBnWffWBtmnm kOKOPcuy nor . WORLD'c WrT Less than a week later, Jack Campbell obtained copies of an "Action Plan for the Kokopelli National Theatre Proposal - May 90 and a draft proposal for the theatre. The action plan broke the development of the theatre Into phases, complete with costs and estimated completion dates. The Draft proposal described the five phases In some detail. Included In the package: KOKOPELLI 1. NATIONAL THEATRE & RECREATIONAL AREA FIVE-PHA- SE DEVELOPMENT Performances Theatre Theatre of the Sky Concert Shed Water & restroom chambers Nature walks Arboretum development Reflecting pool and area beautification Certain areas segregated & protected (Le. from mountain Handrails & hamflcap accessfoUty Parking lotdump reclamation audtoncablkar shuttle Campgroundaftestrooms Bike-tr- ad BLM Ranger station Shaded facility Current bike-tr- ad parking foVtsst room beautlflcallon enclosed stage chambers of UBLM educational chambers U nd Hrst of all, the reality Is that neither of the bids that were Introduced Is going to this pass year. This Is a way to open up the dialogue. In retrospect, we probably should have cut out the $6 million and put In $2 million. In reality, It doesnt mean very much. There may be a difference of opinion (with Senator Gam). Youd find that one camp prefers a very large, expensive facility and there will be a I think, who majority, prefer something smaller and more appropriate. "When we got wind that the University was planning to lease some land from the BLM for outdoor performances, we thought, thats not a bad Idea - a la wdftrap except not so developed. Its more developed Ilian we would ever be. The position that we take Is this. That area on top near the hoack would be tor outdoor performances, but with dtde iva,'a development Theres a natural amphitheatre that would also serve wed as a backdrop for certain performances. Wed have those two things and then some sort of very limited stage. But not a 3000 oat Indoor arena. We consider that Inappropriate and weve been firm on that ad along. "EHvJraomentally the project would be benign. Our concern Is to make sure we . doni start envisioning some Inappropriate fadHtles which arent wed placed we want It to be an outdoor theatre, we expect that a public process wld turn out an Idea that Is a lot ,n concept w a SFMt Idea In that we thought It was a nice division of biterior land for performances. But we dont want to create a monster. We cant have overkill, and as much m we can, wed be a watchdog. aeml-perman- ent drives) Year-rou- 15501 bikes and tieel the Kokopedl National Theatre was Afferent and more considerably modest than the concept envisioned by Geoff Panos. In an slfortto wplaln the University's position, Panos Invited members of the Board of the Moab On the morning of July 21, JacfcCampbeJI and I accompanied the group to the Sand Flats. rc became readily apparent from the number of questions raised and the paucity . thta pf0,!t to 0 Mora It can be considered viable. dtecussed the notion that the performing arts theatre must be setf-no studtos have been made to determine revenues needed to accomplish that " enclosed stage have ranged from 300 to 1000. No one v Zandrm obnrad that, "The Unlvmlty, hi enter point of view, would require a feaafclllty study Obviously, Congressman Owens' vision of AiBProVld!hat dr |
