🚧 Solitude’s Parking Lot Proposal: “Private Land” — Public Consequences Solitude Mountain Resort wants to build a 593-stall parking lot just off Old Stage Road in Big Cottonwood Canyon (BCC) — nestled between two Salt Lake City watershed parcels. They say it’ll: 🔹 Ease roadside parking 🔹 Improve safety 🔹 Not boost capacity But let’s break that down: 📌 The lot requires clearing forest, a new access road, and sits within a protected watershed — yet no environmental review has been done. 📌 It’s being pitched as “private land,” but the impacts are public: water quality, traffic, wildlife, and precedent. 📌 Locals are raising alarms: neighbors weren’t notified, and Salt Lake City Public Utilities has “serious concerns.” Let’s not forget: 💧 This is drinking water for hundreds of thousands of Utahns. 🚸 The new lot puts pedestrians and drivers at greater risk crossing the canyon road. 📈 The Forest Service manages canyon use based on parking availability — more parking means more people. 📍 And once we allow this, what’s next? Another “private” lot next door? 🌲 Big Cottonwood is already at a tipping point. If we keep paving our way deeper into the Wasatch, we risk losing the wildness that makes it worth visiting. 🔗 Read the full article from The Salt Lake Tribune here: (fb)

Our mountain communities are at a crossroads. As developers push for expansion, we must ask: Are we growing responsibly or risking the very landscapes that make these places special? Save Our Canyons has long worked to prevent Nordic Valley from expanding into roadless National Forest lands. Now, we’re concerned that expansion at the resort base could set the stage for future development—impacting water, wildlife, and the rural character of Ogden Valley. 🚨 What’s Happening Now? - Weber County officials have proceeded with several development initiatives that “overwrite” Ogden Valley City. These actions include the approval of public infrastructure districts and community reinvestment areas aimed at facilitating the expansion of the Nordic Valley ski resort. While this current development at the resort’s base doesn’t directly impact the roadless areas, Save Our Canyons is watching closely in case the development creeps up the mountain. 🌿 Why Does This Matter? - Weber County fast-tracking development decisions before the new city government takes over raises serious concerns: ▪️More development at the base could lead to more attempts to develop lift-serviced skiing in National Forest Land. ▪️Water scarcity – Sustainable water management is being ignored. ▪️ Pollution threats – Nitrate levels are rising in Pineview Reservoir, a beloved recreation hub. ▪️ Dark Skies at risk – Increased light pollution threatens Ogden Valley’s Dark Sky designation. ▪️ Wildfire danger – More homes in fire-prone areas put lives and landscapes at risk. 🛑 How can you help? - Stay informed by checking Ogdenvalleysmartgrowth's website for more information⬇️ https://ogdenvalleysmartgrowth.com/ #SaveOurCanyons #SmartGrowth #NordicValley #ProtectOgdenValley #SustainableDevelopment #DarkSkies #PublicLands (fb)