UPDATE 2:34 PM
The following statement was issued by Summit County:
Agreement Reached to Stop Flights
Summit County and helicopter companies come to an agreement to halt operations.
As of 1:00 PM, the helicopter companies agreed to stop operating. There will be no more flights in connection with Sundance and without obtaining the necessary land use approvals.
The county negotiated with these companies who had different initial objectives, but thanks to our legal work and negotiations, agreed on halting operations.
Thanks to the support and partnership we have with Sundance and Park City Municipal Corporation, we were able to come to an agreement. We are glad to have this issue resolved, not only for the safety of all those involved, but also for the wildlife of the area, affected residents and environmental concerns.
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Summit County officials declared Saturday that they will continue enforcement against helicopter shuttle operations that they say are illegal, although a judge Friday declined to issue a temporary restraining order against the businesses. The County says the activities threaten the health and safety of visitors and residents alike in addition to the environment. Rick Brough has more.
The county sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) against operations that are conveying passengers to two locations near Old Ranch Road, and said the operations were not permitted and had not even formally applied for approvals.
However, Third District Court Judge Kara Pettit said the county had not supplied enough evidence and there were too many unresolved issues for her to issue a ruling. Attorneys for the helicopter companies said the Snyderville Development Code, governing development and land uses, doesn't legally control their clients' operations, and also said the county's request on one of the locations was fatally flawed, because the motion for a TRO didn't correctly identify the owner of the property.
Judge Pettit continued the issue to a hearing Monday morning, leaving the firms to operate through the first weekend of Sundance.
In a press release issued Saturday morning, the county said it's disappointed in Friday's outcome, but will use all available and appropriate resources to protect the community. They said their Community Development Department will cite the two property owners with code violations.
In the statement, County Council Chair Roger Armstrong said, "This is not about the economics of these flights for Uber and the other companies operating these illegal services; it is solely about using the Sundance Film Festival to market their business."
Armstrong said the drive from the airport to Park City is only 35 minutes. The copter services takes longer, he argued, brings substantially more air pollution into the county than traditional transit, creates a noise nuisance in a quiet rural residential neighborhood and disrupts a large elk herd and other wildlife.
He added, "Keep in mind that these companies forecast more than 100 flights a day. It is ironic that passengers are contributing to such ill effects at a festival filled with documentaries advocating for social and environmental responsibility."
Council Member Kim Carson said they welcome and support the Sundance Film Festival, but they still have a community that deserves some level of normalcy, safety and comfort, "These helicopter services have taken that away for many."
County Manager Tom Fisher said the Sundance Festival supports the county's efforts, and is disappointed in how the county and local citizens are being treated.
At Friday's hearing, attorneys for the helicopter companies also claimed that they had reached a settlement with the county the day before, but the county had reneged. In Saturday's statement, the county said they decided to deny use of a helipad at the Sheriff's office because of several health and environmental concerns, and because using a county facility in a for-profit commercial operation isn't appropriate.
County Manager Fisher said they will do everything in their power to bring the activities under control. "We want these services to stop."
