Having been to numerous Summit Council meetings, this one made it absolutely clear that my time and comments about Dakota Pacific never mattered. Four members of the council quite elegantly explained why the public private proposal was good for Park City while also telling us that if they didn’t pass the development, the Legislature would step in and do something worse.
Then why all the meetings? I feel that we were just taken along for the ride. I knew the proposal was a done deal when at the outset we were told about a change to the proposal stating that if DPRE couldn’t find an operating director for the senior center, then those proposed units would become market value housing owned by DPRE.
Not a single question or response was made. No concerns about qualifications, how the search would be conducted, what best efforts would be made or how this would impact the limit that was put on number of housing units.
Then we heard about all the great things the partnership would supply us. A bridge across the highway that was not paid for. A possible gondola from the capture parking lot that also isn’t in the proposal. A bandshell that was not described. New left and right hand turns off 224 that would not make a considerable difference in the traffic problems. Actually there was a lot of talk about when and if UDOT would get involved, although there were no real solutions being offered.
We were told (over and over again) that we didn’t understand all that the partnership was offering Park City residents.
We were told how wonderful it would be to bring our kids to the new development to share with their community neighbors surrounded by 850 housing units.
We were told that people would be happy to drive to Park City and then park in underground lots and take a buses.
We were told that the tech center would be so much worse.
We were told that the school systems would be fine.
Once again, there was no discussion about actual solutions by the impact of 850 housing units on traffic, water, services.
And then, there was Roger Armstrong, who told us that he was taught by his mother to stand up to bullies.
Bravo, Roger, and thank you for your honesty, devotion, hard work and for listening to the public that you serve.
But wait!
This just in! The referendum to overturn the decision can go through if we can get the signatures!
Sign up, neighbors! We can do this!
Jodi Buren
Park City