Hundreds sign RRAD petition calling for disapproval of PEG development

The photo attached to the petition. Photo: RRAD // change.org

PARK CITY, Utah — Over 900 people have signed a petition created by the Responsible Resort Area Development Coalition (RRAD) calling for the Park City Planning Commission and Park City Council to reject the PEG Companies development at the base of Park City Mountain.

The project is currently in front of the planning commission. A public hearing to discuss the project was set for March 23, however, it was postponed by the applicant.

PEG is seeking to amend the 1998 development agreement on the lot at the base of the resort, and they are asking for exceptions to limits on building height and parking.

The latest proposal involves paid parking and Park City Mountain owner Vail Resorts paying Park City Municipal $5.3 million to enhance public transit. $2.9 million would go towards three new electric buses, $940,000 for operating costs, and $1.48 million in fixed costs associated with the enhanced service.

“While we are not opposed to every development project in Park City, we believe PEG Development’s proposed plan is not beneficial to local residents and will in fact have a negative impact on our overall quality of life,” the petition states.

“One MAJOR outcome of this development is it will directly impact every single resident moving around Park City; the proposed development will generate even more traffic.”

RRAD lists the following reasons as justification for the disapproval of the PEG project:

• Buildings topping out at 103’ in an area zoned for 35’
• Reliance on city, school district and county resources for parking of resort operations funded by taxpayer dollars
• Unsafe and insufficient pedestrian access and connectivity
• Insufficient transit and shuttle centers with no room for expansion
• Insufficient drop-off/pick-up areas for visitors (locals and tourists) to the resort
• Affordable/employee housing proposed amounts to approximately 30% of the new jobs created
• Only 6% of the four parcels for development will be open space; the remaining 54% of open space is from the mountain/ski runs

“Development of a 249-room hotel, a conference space, approximately 150 market-rate condos, minimal new affordable housing units, and additional commercial space will only serve to increase the traffic in Park City,” the petition says.

“Traffic is already a serious issue; our streets and roads are at capacity. Our current infrastructure was not built to handle the traffic we all experience today.

“This is already evidenced by significant backups along 224, 248, Deer Valley Drive, and our local neighborhood streets. Getting to work, school, appointments or anywhere in Park City is a challenge. The proposed plan is not a solution.”

Read TownLift’s interview with PEG Companies President Robert Schmidt:

PEG expects a vote on Park City Mountain base at the earliest in May