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Hideout Councilors Say They Believe Annexation Was Still the Right Call for Town

Hideout Utah

The Hideout Town Council voted Friday to repeal its plan to pursue annexation of 655 acres into Summit County.

 

But also during their meeting, council members—and the prospective developer of the land-- chided their critics in Summit County and Park City. They said they had followed state law—though that law may change at the upcoming legislative special session and called for regional planning for the rapidly growing Jordanelle area.

 

The Hideout Council adopted its resolution of intent on July 9, and legally had to hold a public hearing within a month of that decision. However, technical glitches with Zoom hamstrung their ability to hold the crucial hearing on Aug. 12.

 

So, noted Hideout Mayor Phil Rubin, they felt it was appropriate to repeal the resolution. 

 

The mayor said they can still pursue annexation, but the clock will have to start running again. And council member Kurt Shadle said it may be prudent to take a “pause’ and see if the legislative special session on the 20th will repeal or change the bill that enabled Hideout to annex out into Summit County without Summit’s consent.

 

Council members still said that for them, and for the growing neighborhoods around the northern Jordanelle Reservoir in Wasatch County, a commercial base is needed closer than Park City or Heber.

 

And there’s still a lawsuit from Summit County—a filing that Council Member Robert Nadelburg said came off as petty.

 

“To me, that complaint read like something a bunch of high-school-age ‘Mean Girls’ would have written,” he said. “All sorts of nasty things were said about Hideout, that may indicate what other people think about the town of Hideout and this area of development. And the bottom line is this. We need these services. They need to be put in. That area’s a logical place. And nothing illegal has been done. Everything has been done above board, and within the confines of the law. Could the law change in the future? Well, anything could happen.”

 

Developer Nate Brockbank said he had talked about developing the Summit County land with a couple of county council members, Development Director Pat Putt, and Park City Mayor Andy Beerman.

 

“I’ve met with the Park City mayor twice. We’ve had great conversations,” Brockbank said. “We just see things a little bit differently. I can’t tell you how many names have been called—how the town of Hideout’s been called names by these big county and cities. Hopefully they will work with us. Because right now, they act like they’re going to. But the name-calling and all that stuff, I have a hard time believing they’re going to work with us.”

 

Brockbank said they’ll just see what the Legislature does.

 

“We’ve done nothing illegal,” he said. “I think the Legislature will see that. They’ve said they think it’s a good law.”

 

He said whatever happens, he can say he’s been honest.

 

“If the legislators repeal the law, that’s the law,” Brockbank said. “We don’t do anything. If they don’t, I wanna approach you guys again. You know the kind of person I am. I’m a good developer. I’m honest in my dealings with all Council Members. I’m honest in my dealings with—what I say I’m gonna do, I do. I’ve had a hard time, too, here. I’ve been called many names, put through the mud, and I—the one thing I have is my integrity. And I am a very good developer. And I do think this area needs it.”

 

Park City Mayor Andy Beerman called in briefly to the meeting, to say that Park City supported the repeal, and they’re very encouraged by the idea of Hideout taking a “pause.”

 

“And despite, I think, the fact tempers flared about the way this was handled initially, we would very much welcome a regional planning discussion with Hideout,” the Park City mayor said. And we would certainly participate.”

 

In response, Council Member Chris Baier asked if Park City will help Hideout protect its reputation going forward.

 

“I know through second-hand accounts that you’ve been vehemently opposed to this, and have been un-bashful in letting everyone know,” Baier said. “So I just want to say that Park City has a huge megaphone through the media, through social media, through all kinds of appearances that you guys make. We would ask you to make a better effort to protect the reputation of Hideout, because we are a real town with real representatives who’ve been elected or appointed. And we have real constituents here.”

 

The Council vote to repeal was 4 to 1. The dissenting vote, Bob Nadelberg, said again that they’re on the right path.

 

“I think we’ve been more, more than accommodating in considering the needs of all parties involved, including Summit County,” Nadelburg said. “And as you said, as I feel, and as various constituents who I’ve talked to in the last recent days feel, they want the development to go over in Richardson Flats.”

 

One citizen comment in the meeting came from Mark Boyle, a resident of Black Rock Ridge. He commended their efforts, but said the town should remember the plan is involved with some big business interests with connections to the Legislature.

 

“I would encourage you to see what you can get back, what you get in return for giving up that land. And if you’re going to develop that land, you have to get a lot back.”

Known for getting all the facts right, as well as his distinctive sign-off, Rick covered Summit County meetings and issues for 35 years on KPCW. He now heads the Friday Film Review team.
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