Planners don't like proposal for Alta

ALTA — A proposed subdivision in the tiny town of Alta has environmentalists up in arms.

And as of last week, the naysayers seemed to be on the winning side of the years-long tug of war.

Meeting in a fancy seafood restaurant in Sandy, the Alta Planning Commission recommended against approval of the project, citing lack of access to water and emergency services.

The proposed subdivision, if built, would consist of up to 16 homes next to the Grizzly Gulch neighborhood.

Earlier this month, the area was part of an annual wildflower festival, highlighting the summertime beauty of canyon land best known for its fabulous winter snow.

The subdivision land in question is usually populated with a field of wild daisies, according to attorney Del Draper, who has spoken out against the project. But this year, because of a wet June, the land is a beautiful vista of wild grasses and shrubs — and four soil test holes.

The property is controlled by the estate of Jody Schrontz, a former Alta councilwoman and environmentalist who was killed in an Arizona plane crash with her husband in 2004.

Schrontz had proposed building a hotel on the site. Since her death, up to six attorneys at a time have tried to get a subdivision on the property.

According to Alta town manager Jim Gouldner, none of Schrontz's heirs have approached the city, only their lawyers.

But according to Draper, the subdivision is an odd legacy for Schrontz, whose affection for the great outdoors led her estate to ask for donations to the Nature Conservancy at her funeral.

Last week, planning commissioners said they aren't opposed to development of Little Cottonwood Canyon, just the kind of development that would harm watershed or create unsafe living conditions.

"Just come back when you're done," said Gouldner, characterizing the meeting.

The town manager added that development could be good for Alta if it increases property values, thereby upping the tax base. But the project has not changed for three years, Gouldner said.

"We're very interested in the future of Alta, but what we're also interested in is protecting what makes Alta great," said Planning Commission Chairman Skip Branch. "We're not about stopping growth."

The decision of whether the project is possible has yet to be determined because things like a culinary water source have yet to be determined, Branch said. But the commission's vote tied developers to a plan with just seven lots.

Attorneys for the Schrontz and S.J. Quinney estate refused to comment both before and after the July 21 meeting.

Project approval now moves to the Alta Town Council, which next meets Aug. 13. If the project is denied, the Schrontz estate could go back before the Planning Commission the very next day with revised proposals, Gouldner said.

e-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com