Who’s behind keep clark ranch wild (KCRW)?

We are a group of Park City residents who are advocating to preserve open space and place affordable housing where it makes sense.

what is the goal of kcrw?

We want to present the facts about the proposed Clark Ranch development and ensure it represents an accurate and balanced reporting of what is being planned.  We want to enable the greater Park City community to decide whether this is a good use of Park City’s tax dollars and if the city should proceed with the development.

what is the main reason kcrw is opposed to the clark ranch development?

What we oppose is the location and process of the current Clark Ranch proposal. The site’s steep terrain, high construction costs, and sensitive open space make it an inefficient and environmentally risky place to build. Every dollar spent overcoming those challenges is a dollar not spent building more affordable homes elsewhere.

does kcrw support affordable housing?

Yes! We share Park City’s deep commitment to affordable and workforce housing. Our teachers, healthcare workers, police officers, and service employees are essential to our community, and they deserve the opportunity to live close to where they work. In fact, many of our members live in affordable housing here in Park City.

who owns the land for the proposed clark ranch development?

Park City Municipal owns the land.

What was the original intent behind the city’s purchase of clark ranch?

The 344 acres of Clark Ranch was acquired by the city in 2014 and the idea was to place the vast majority of it into a conservation easement.

was there ever any specific intention to build affordable housing on the clark ranch property?

On August 25, 2015, the Citizens Open Space Advisory Committee (“COSAC”) finalized months of discussion and finalized recommendations later brought to Council. The minutes from that meeting states: “Potential development parameters if necessary: Up to 10 acres, located in the northwest corner of the parcel adjacent to Park City Heights, to be excluded from this easement for other City uses TBD by Council.”

Those minutes confirm that housing was NOT discussed as a recommended use. Committee discussion focused on recreation-related uses, for example, equestrian facilities and trailhead bathrooms.

why is building a new road so problematic?

If the existing unpaved fire road, which runs parallel to Rt. 40, is widened and paved that will be start of a road that could eventually connect to many more developments south of Park City Heights, including Deer Valley East. The traffic increases on Richardson Flat Road and Rt. 248 would be enormous.

Has a traffic study been conducted?

Neither the city nor the developer have submitted the results of any traffic studies. There is concern that those studies were conducted during the shoulder season and will, therefor, not account for the true traffic loads during our peak ski season. In addition, there is concern that the study will not take into account the cars that will be added once Studio Crossing comes on line which is planned for over 300 units.

are there other nearby areas that would be better suitable for affordable housing?

Yes! The soon-to-open Studio Crossing development has land nearby that is much flatter and, therefore, easier for building. In addition, there are planned amenities at Studio Crossing that are much more attractive for affordable housing dwellers including retail, dining and easy access to public transit.