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Show pr jnnoni 1 i. j l'-;S I! rj .. . !; -xt - "'" " pt4 . J kl S.P 0 HK ' . I L If ? I - ' ilVvf f i " County Zoning & Land Use Code Nears Completion A year ago Max Greenhalgh began working on a master developent code-zoning ordinance or-dinance for Summit County. He has not worked alone. Along with a 30-niember steering committee he has held meetings, gathered citizen opinion, and received input from hundreds of county residents, representing nearly every possible view and interest. The goal of the development code, as expressed by the people and defined by the steering committee, is to "protect the life style presently enjoyed by Summit Sum-mit County residents." It is generally felt that people live here because of the area's low-key, historic atmosphere, its open spaces, and easy access to many kinds of recreation. The major threat to those values in the Snyderville-Park City area is uncontrolled development. develop-ment. Mr. Greenhalgh and the steering committee, in the pro-' pro-' cess of gathering facts, saw proposed developments in this end of the county alone, not including those within the city limits, which would have covered 15,000 acres and housed a population of 30,000. "To be successful in preserving our life style," said Planner Greenhalgh'T feel that we must zone everything restrictively at the onset, so that few places will qualify for development. Then, if a developer or landowner comes to us with what appears to be a responsible development idea, which would not harm our environment, we will work with him to change the zoning. "Of course, these changes won't be arbitrary. Perhaps the single most impoitant section of the code, the section upon which everything hinges, is section 4.8, in which we've set forth detailed criteria for evaluating prospective developments. "Prospective development plans should also conform to the master land use plan. This plan is not an ordinance it's a map to be used as a guide in making zone changes; zone changes shouldn't be made if the master land use plan indicates that they would have a negative effect. The master land use plan was arrived at by evaluating the landowners' intentions against constraints of the land (slope, soil and water conditions, for example). It will be continually updated." This Friday, Greenhalgh will meet with members of the steering committee and the planning commissioners to receive re-ceive their ideas as to what final changes ought to be made before the plan is presented to the public. "Following that meeting," said Greenhalgh" we hope to announce . a public hearing scheduled for the second week in November." Most of the public will be pleased to discover sections of the code which cover their major concerns: fire protection, preservation preser-vation of clean water supplies, and stopping the proliferation of billboards. There are, however, more complex issues in which opposing groups have equally valid needs. For example, there are farmers dedicated to the perpetuation of ' agriculture who do not want to see their land fragmented, while there are others, perhaps nearing retirement age, who would like to sell to subdividers to finance a secure future. Finding solutions which are equitable for all Summit County's residents has not been a simple matter. Asked what he might hope ' from the public at the time of the hearing. Greenhalghsaid, "The code and the master plan incorporates the best of my ideas and the ideas of those who've worked with me, yet I know these are not the only possible solutions. "I would welcome better solutions in areas where we need them. I only hope that in addressing a particular problem, people do not insist on solutions that reflect only one side. I hope they will have examined the complexities and will attempt, as we have, to offer proposals whid reflect all the needs of the area |