Planning Commission Chair Sarah Hall will not seek third term

PARK CITY, Utah – Park City Planning Commission Chair Sarah Hall has withdrawn her application for a third term, opting to pursue “other public service opportunities”, according to a city staff report. Hall’s departure comes as Mayor Nann Worel and the City Council prepares to appoint new members to the commission.

Hall, whose term officially expired in July 2024, continued serving while major projects, including the Snow Park application and Bonanza Park Land Management Code amendments, were under review. With those projects nearing completion, Hall has stepped aside, allowing for new appointments to maintain the commission’s staggered term structure.

Following interviews with 15 applicants in March, Worel has recommended appointing Grant Tilson and Bill Johnson to terms ending in July 2028, and Seth Beal to a term ending in July 2029. The City Council will review these recommendations in an upcoming session scheduled Thursday, April 10.

Hall’s tenure has not been without controversy. As chair, she rarely voted except to break ties, but in February 2024, she cast the deciding vote to approve tech billionaire Matthew Prince’s Treasure Hill home proposal. Later, Hall disclosed that she was being legally represented by lawyers at the firms also representing both Matthew Prince and the appellants Susan and Eric Fredston-Hermann.

Hall has also been involved in a lawsuit, which began in 2023, over a dispute between Hall and her neighbors that alleges she is violating land codes on her property. A 3rd District Court judge dismissed several claims last year. Last year, several claims in the lawsuit—also involving Park City Municipal— were dismissed but it remains unresolved.

In a statement issued by the City, Hall was thanked for her dedicated service over two terms on the Planning Commission, including her leadership as Chair since 2023.

“The role is demanding and time-intensive – often with high expectations and very little recognition – yet Sarah approached it with thoughtfulness and a deep commitment to the community. Her time on the Commission included developing the Bonanza Park Small Area Plan, several updates to our Land Management Code, work on the Deer Valley Snow Park project, and more. We wish her the best in her future endeavors,” the statement said.

In addition, Hall was the lone dissenting vote in a 3-1 2022 appeal of a conditional use permit for the Eagle and Silverlode lift upgrades at Park City Mountain. Hall’s vote was in favor of the lifts being built. The others voted to grant the appeal on the basis that it was not consistent with the 1998 Mountain Upgrade Plan (MUP), which governs lift upgrades at the resort.

The Planning Commission, a seven-member body, plays a key role in shaping Park City’s development by reviewing land use applications, zoning changes, and amendments to the city’s General Plan.

Park City’s Municipal Code states that Planning Commission members are appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council and states that alternate members may be appointed. It also requires appointments to fairly represent the interests of all residents of the community.

More recently, in 2022, the City Council adopted an ordinance to amend Planning Commissioner qualifications, requiring candidates to be residents of Park City and have resided within the City for at least ninety (90) days prior to being appointed. The ordinance also outlines that it should be a priority for at least one Planning Commissioner to be a land use professional, including but not limited to experience in construction, planning, architecture, or real estate development. City officials said the ordinance’s requirement is fulfilled on the current commission.