A state senator who has introduced legislation that may help a private developer by overriding local zoning ordinances has accepted campaign contributions from those who stand to benefit financially from the project.
Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, received $1,000 from people associated with the landowner two weeks before introducing legislation that could help the Quinn’s Junction Partnership by overriding the Snyderville Basin Development Code.
Madsen received a contribution from the Greg Ericksen Family Trust on Jan. 21. The senator filed Senate Bill 231 on Feb. 4.
Ericksen represents Quinn’s Junction Partnership, which owns the land, and the general partner in the firm is his son-in-law, Michael Martin, Ericksen said.
Additionally, Ericksen personally put $2,000 into Madsen’s campaign coffers in 2009.
“I’ve supported Madsen all the way through,” Ericksen said in a telephone interview Friday. “I’ve supported other candidates and I’ve also sent $1,000 to the Park City open space committee.”
The text of S.B. 231 was not made public early Friday and Madsen has not returned several telephone calls from The Park Record.
Ericksen has worked for years to develop about 30 acres of land situated at the edge of Park City. He has wrangled with county officials in court claiming they have stonewalled efforts to build on the property.
Now Ericksen has enlisted Madsen in his fight hoping to force development of the movie studio at Quinn’s Junction despite opposition from the community, Summit County Manager Bob Jasper said.
When reached on Friday County Councilwoman Sally Elliott did not speak extensively about the payments made to Madsen.
“That’s very interesting,” Elliott said about the campaign contributions.
Local leaders have vowed to fight S.B. 231, which may create a so-called “film enterprise zone” at Quinn’s Junction.
Ericksen said Raleigh Studios would like a 325,000 square-foot production facility in the Park City area and studio representatives said Quinn’s Junction is the ideal location. But the county officials opposed to the plan said the proposal is too big. They said the property should only be zoned for about 85,000 square feet, which is not large enough for the movie studio.
Jasper said Madsen urged the government to reach an agreement with Ericksen for the larger development.
The senator said he will step in on behalf of the developer if the Quinn’s Junction Partnership does not receive approval for the movie studio, Jasper added.
The studio proposal does not comply with local zoning. However, Senate Bill 231 may override the Snyderville Basin Development Code to allow the production facility at Quinn’s Junction.