Residents rally to protest changes to canyons, foothills ordinance

SALT LAKE CITY — Opponents of proposed changes in ski area and canyon zoning ordinances rallied Tuesday, saying the changes expand ski resorts into public land, harming the environment and affecting drinking water.

The rally, organized by Save Our Canyons, was held in the Salt Lake County South Building at 2100 South and State Street, before a regular County Council meeting where the zoning ordinances were to be discussed.

"The reason we're here today is ... we've reached out to a lot of members of the County Council and not a lot of them have returned our phone calls," said Carl Fisher, executive director of Save Our Canyons during the meeting.

Rally participants congregated in the atrium of the Salt Lake County South Building holding signs and meeting other opponents of the proposed zoning changes.

"I value the wild character of the Wasatch and open space," said Joe Flower, a Salt Lake resident holding a sign that read "Say no to ski-stink," a play on SkiLink, a proposal to build a gondola connecting Canyons Ski Resort near Park City to Solitude Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon. "That resource is always under attack by developers."

The zoning ordinances, which opponents fear would pave the way for projects like SkiLink, were not voted on during the meeting. Councilman David Wilde suggested those interested in making public comments on the issue wait until future meetings when they would be voted on. But Councilman Randy Horiuchi received applause when he said if people wanted to make public comments, they could despite those issues not appearing on the agenda. 

Residents spoke about proposed changes to the Foothills and Canyons Overlay Zone, the critical planning document that dictates what types of development and activities can happen in the canyons where the ski resorts of Alta, Brighton, Solititude and Snowbird are established. The ordinance also restricts development in the foothills of Emigration, Parleys, Millcreek, Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, Rose and Butterfield canyons.

Revisions under consideration to the overlay zone include redefining what it means to be a ski resort so that summertime activities are more easily accommodated into development plans by resort owners. By their definition, ski resorts contemplate activities associated only with snow.

Revisions also would modify the criteria for granting waivers for construction activities that relate to slope grades. On gradients of 30 percent or less, for example, no waiver would be required.