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Show Ten O'GlccEi WhisftPe by David Fleisher Maps here, maps there, a map for one and all. Maps here, maps there, My God! They're all over the wall!... Following last week's planning commission meeting at Prospector Square, I walked outside in the cool air and immediately felt dizzy. It wasn't because it was hot outside; it wasn't because there happened to be a lot of people in attendance at the meeting; and it wasn't because I had had anything to drink (except water). I was dizzy as a result of seeing too many maps describing in detail proposed developments for Park City. The two big developments discussed last week were Quittin Time project (formerly called, Norfolk Project) and the massive Deer Valley project. Developers and architects for both respective developments were on hand to show planning commission members whai they had in mind. In order to make sure everything was understood, the proponents for the developments brought maps and other graphic materials with them to the meeting. I was sitting in the front row, and everything was going fine for a while until I realized that I didn't fully understand everything that was before me. There were several maps on the wall during the Quittin Time project presentation, made by local planner Van Martin. Van was very coherent as he moved from one map to another; he spoke clearly and was obviously very well prepared. His answers to various questions posed to him by commission members and interested residents were direct and concise. So, I can't in all honesty blame my inability to comprehend everything on Van. What was the problem then? It's those damn maps and all that graphic striff on the walls and on the table in front of the planning commission. The irony of all this is that the maps are supposed to clarify and enhance . understandability of the developments. But theydon't, for some reason. My eyes were darting back and forth from the maps on the wall to Van to members of the planning commission (to see how they were responding) to people in the audience, then finally back to Van, who was still talking about some technical aspect of the development. I tried taking my glasses off, hoping to get better peripheral vision so I could see everything at once. It didn't work. After a while, 1 realized I needed at least six more eyes: two more in front of my head, two on the side, and two in the back. Along with the.maps for Quittin Time, a structure of sorts was carefully placed on the table in front of the commission. It was a nice looking structure, showing what the project would look like in layman's terms. There were condominiums here and condominiums there and trees and grass. What we're expected to do is, first, understand the maps, then look at the structure and say, "Aha! So THAT'S what this project is going to be like." But instead, you say, "My God! What the hell's going on here!" I began twitching around nervously in the chair, not knowing whether to look at the maps, Van, the commission members, people in the audience, or the structure. Then, I thought to myself, "It's just me. Everybody else probably understands what all this means." . I wish a developer would just get up in front of the room and say, "Now this is what I want to develop, i want to build this condominium complex on Norfolk Avenue beginning in three months. Commission members, I want you to grant me approval to go ahead with this project, not only because it will mean a lot of money for me, but also because I think it will be an asset to ark City. My associates and I have done a lot of impact studies and even though there are some problems with the project, I feel they can be worked out. We've got water, we've got pipes to transport the water, we've got retaining walls to discourage flooding, and we've got beautiful floor plans. I'm going to show you maps, one at a time, slowly. I'm going to show you a visual rendition "of this project so you can tell what it will look like once it is built. I realize this project could pose congestion problems on Norfolk Avenue, but we have supplied enough parking so that occupants won't have to use Norfolk Avenue. It's steep up there; yes, I know It's steep. But so is Rossi Hill. You haven't seen any houses roll down Rossi Hill lately, have you? And whatever changes you want us to make pertaining to this project, we will try our best to make. And if we can't make those changes, we will tell you beforehand prior to construction. I must admit, one of the problems we are faced with is time. Construction costs will more than likely rise in the weeks ahead; plus, if we don't build this project soon, somebody else will. But, I don't want you to get the impression that I'm rushing you. As members of the planning commission, I realize you have many other projects to consider. Thank you. ' ' This way, I wouldn't get dizzy. As I walk down Main Street, I hear the Ten O'Clock Whistb. |