Alta rejects plan for canyon subdivision

The Alta Town Council has unanimously denied a subdivision application that would have put 10 luxury homes deep in Little Cottonwood Canyon on Albion Basin.

But property owner Jody Shrontz Estate could reapply at any time, said newly re-elected Alta Mayor Tom Pollard.

Shrontz and her husband, well-known environmental activists, were killed in a plane crash in 2003.

The Town Council's Nov. 12 denial followed a recommendation of denial by the Alta Planning Commission. Both groups said the developer was unable to provide culinary water and fire access, among other things, and denied the application on those grounds.

"It was obvious to us that the application at this time did not comply with the ordinances," Pollard said. "We didn't necessarily stop the development. We just denied this particular application."

The town held four public meetings on the matter. During one heated meeting in September, several university students showed up to protest the project. Representatives of Friends of Alta and Save Our Canyons also spoke out against the plan.

At the time, Shrontz Estate attorney Alan Sullivan said state law provides his client with the right to continue its application as long as it shows reasonable diligence. Sullivan wanted the town to wait on approval or denial until water access could be determined.

Since the denial, the estate has not yet decided how to proceed but could either sue the town or reapply.

"We were very disappointed," Sullivan said. "We're reviewing all of our options, and we're going to do our best to get this project back on track."

Personal representative of the estate Herbert Livsey declined to comment on the matter.

Because municipal ordinances have been amended since the first subdivision application, the Shrontz Estate would have to prove it has necessary approvals before going to the Town Council if it decides to reapply.

e-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com