This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The showdown over whether to move a power substation in Park City's Bonanza Park area is off.
A developer had sought the move, but residents protested. It looks as if the residents won.
Although the Park City Council was set to vote on the controversial proposal June 20, the municipality issued a statement Friday saying it could not overcome the remaining obstacles to the move within Rocky Mountain Power Co.'s time frame for an overhaul of the substation.
The power company said it must go forward in coming weeks to complete upgrades by fall 2015.
Developer Mark J. Fischer proposed moving the substation from Munchkin Drive to Iron Horse Drive. The power company was amenable to the land swap because the facility is due for an overhaul, said Rocky Mountain spokeswoman Margaret Oler.
Although Rocky Mountain would pay for facility upgrades, Park City and Fischer would have had to foot the estimated $11 million move.
But condominium residents in the Iron Horse Drive area objected.
Irwin Krigman headed up an ad-hoc group called Park City Coalition Against Irresponsible Development. Moving the substation would diminish property values and spoil views for residents, he said. The group launched a petition drive and gathered over 700 signatures.
Krigman hailed the city's decision Friday. "That's wonderful. Now I feel good."
Park City planners had earlier appeared to favor the substation relocation because it would allow Fischer to build a better mixed-use development, said Mayor Dana Williams.
The Bonanza Park area is bounded by Park Avenue, Kearns Boulevard, Bonanza Drive and Deer Valley Drive. It encompasses about 30 acres. Fischer owns about 11 acres.
Fischer could not be reached for comment Friday.
Bonanza Park is ripe for redevelopment, the mayor said of the acreage that is now zoned light industrial. Park City is considering financing new construction there through the creation of a Community Development Area. Utah law allows a CDA to use increment financing from property tax, similar to a redevelopment area.