The FAQ of the substation debate, as drafted by City Hall
With the critical vote about the future location of a Rocky Mountain Power substation fast approaching, City Hall has published a frequently-asked-questions document explaining the idea.
Officials posted the seven-page document on the municipal website on Thursday, as two gatherings centered on the substation were nearing. The document was posted in the News section of the City Hall website, under the headline "Rocky Mountain Power Substation FAQs." The website address is http://www.parkcity.org.
The document offers 21 questions and answers officials see as being keys to understanding the idea to move the substation. In several places, it seems, City Hall is making its argument for moving the substation from where it now sits.
The substation now occupies a location along Munchkin Drive. A developer who holds plans to remake the Bonanza Park district wants to swap a parcel of land under his control on lower Iron Horse Drive for the substation parcel on Munchkin Drive. A new substation would then be built on the land on lower Iron Horse Drive.
That, Mark J. Fischer says, will allow the Bonanza Park redevelopment to be more ambitious than it would be if the substation is left where it is now. The land where the substation sits occupies a high-profile spot within the Bonanza Park redevelopment area.
People who live on or close to lower Iron Horse Drive or who have properties there are displeased with the idea to move the substation closer to their places. They argue that doing so could depress property values and the substation would look bad at the location.
Rocky Mountain Power says it needs to upgrade the substation to meet increasing demand for electricity,
The document that City Hall posted on the website provides an overview of the history of power substations in Park City, a discussion of the idea to redevelop Bonanza Park and the reasoning behind the location of a substation.
Some of the highlights from the document include:
"With the size and scale of the Bonanza Park redevelopment plan, which would be a contractual obligation of the developer if the substation was moved, the redevelopment plan has the potential to increase property values," the document says.
"The willingness of the developer to defer action on an approved Master Planned Development for mixed use commercial and residential at 1555 Iron Horse Drive allowed the City the time to develop a long range vision for Bonanza Park," the answer says.
Park City Chamber/Bureau brings back sustainable tourism grant for second year
The Park City Chamber/Bureau-developed grant awards applicants up to $30,000 for eligible projects that help reduce the impact of visitors and cultivate respect for the local community as outlined in the Sustainable Tourism Plan.
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