Corroon blasts Workman over road

Even if she never directly approved a road that will be carved into a mountainside at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Democratic challenger for Salt Lake County mayor Peter Corroon places all of the blame at the feet of incumbent Nancy Workman.

Standing in front of the mountain that the road will climb, Corroon said Wednesday that the mayor's support for the construction of the road epitomizes everything that is wrong with her administration.

"Big Cottonwood Canyon is one of the gems of the county, but it's being threatened by the anything-goes philosophy of the county mayor," Corroon said. "This road will scar our canyon."

Workman did not return phone calls seeking comment.

The road will eventually give access to a gated, luxury home development above the canyon on land owned by developer Terry Diehl's company, Wasatch Pacific. Before it could be constructed, the county's Board of Adjustments had to grant three variances for building on steep slopes, including a slope of more than 50 percent, which county ordinances allow "under no circumstances." The variances have recently been upheld by the 3rd District Court.

While Workman does not have the power to veto Board of Adjustments' rulings, Corroon said she did openly support the road in an effort to help a top-tier campaign donor.

Should he be elected, Corroon promised to do everything possible to protect the foothills and canyons by encouraging development of residential areas within the valley instead of above it.

"As a real estate developer, I understand the need to grow," he said. "But we need to protect our foothills and our canyons. We need to build communities, not just buildings."

Corroon also pointed to the scandals that have plagued county leaders, especially Workman, over the past couple of months as an indication that the mayor "has forgot who she represents" when making decisions.

"The attitude is that we're in power and can do what we want," Corroon said. "But the citizens need to take control and change that attitude."

---

E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com