Park City Planning Director Bruce Erickson says the Alice Claim subdivision has provided a decade of controversy. Now, the planning commission will look at a retaining wall along King Road that was constructed in the wrong location, so instead of the six-foot height it was approved for, the wall is now nine feet tall. Erickson says the commission will have a policy discussion about how to move forward.
“The applicant has two options," Erickson said. "He can either put the wall back where it was approved, or the planning commission could take an action to allow this additional geometry.”
Erickson says the way the land was surveyed resulted in the difference between what was built and what was approved. He says he doesn’t believe it was intentional.
“In this case, it was probably not the whole project application that was at fault," Erickson said. "There was a discrepancy in the survey.”
The planning commission will decide whether the developer should change the built wall to match the original approvals or if they can leave it as is. Staff hasn’t recommended one way or the other, but the city engineer thinks the wall’s current position allows for better and safer turning at the intersection there.
Carol Sletta lives on Sampson Avenue and has been following the Alice Claim project for 10 years. She says that considering a conditional use permit to allow a retaining wall greater than the already-approved six feet in height sends a message about how developers can overrule the city’s plans. Sletta says the developer wanted to widen the intersection all along.
“Wider is not better in historic Old Town," Sletta said. "We want to keep the character of this neighborhood. Leave the street intersection as it's been. Wider encourages faster driving.”
The Park City Planning Commission’s work session is scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Marsac Building.
