A family in the hills above the Utah Olympic Park fears they will have to leave their home soon.
The family patriarch notes his ancestors have lived in the hills above Olympic Park for generations. The family has found this location to be perfect with lots of activities and good access to the stores needed to feed the family and lots of space for outdoor activities.
He observes he has seen wonderful development in the area with new hiking trails that can be used to transit the area, especially when there is deep snow during the winter.
He advises he and his family have witnessed many changes at Olympic Park in the years up to the 2002 Olympics and since. However, most of these changes have not adversely impacted the family’s residences as the density has been mostly confined to the lower section of the property. They have come to enjoy watching people flying in the air at the ski jumps and free style venues as well as the bobsleds and luges tearing down the track.
While the recent ski trails, lights and noisy snow guns disturb the peaceful neighborhood, the family has been happy to co-exist with the UOP’s activities and they still find time to hike up Moose Puddle to the Olympic Trail and Rob’s.
However, if UOP receives approval of their new development plan, especially with the ten single-family houses proposed to be built at the top of the park, his family will have to move.
He wonders “why a sports venue needs a housing development with 10 large single-family homes in excess of 5,000 square feet.”
He is also concerned with the possibility of through traffic going through the gate at the top of UOP and the large construction trucks that will race up and down Bear Hollow Drive to meet their construction deadlines.
He notes that his family, including the new twins, use the road to go get food, especially in the winter, when the snow is too deep at the higher elevations. The risk of death or injury of a family member will only increase with more traffic especially if the drivers do not live in the area and don’t appreciate the abundant wildlife.
While there are many other issues that concern him, he feels most threatened by losing the ancestorial home around Legacy Loop at the top of UOP and feels they have no other place to go.
Unfortunately, they must rely on the Park City community to voice their outrage of this overreaching development and to encourage the Summit County Council to curtail some of the new plans proposed at the UOP.
He concludes with the hope you appreciate their plight and remains optimistic they will be able to remain in their home at the top of UOP.
Chuck Mollard
Park City