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SALT LAKE CITY — Remarking that the east side canyons "belong to all of us," Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon called on residents Thursday to help develop general plans for Parleys, Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood canyons.
"Our canyons don't belong to any one person. They belong to all of us. Our canyons do not belong to any single entity. They belong to all of us," Corroon reiterated at a press conference at the trail head at the mouth of Parleys Canyon.
Next week the first in a series of public meetings on the canyons will be held in Millcreek. In the past, the county developed master plans covering 10 to 20 years to guide use, development and transportation decisions in the canyons. Now, long-range master plans have been replaced with "general plans," as guiding documents for future planning.
Corroon, who is not seeking re-election, said he will hand off development of the general plans to the next administration because the public process could take up to a year.
The county recently completed the Emigration Canyon general plan, which will be sent to the Salt Lake County Council for its consideration.
An earlier planning effort, 2010 Wasatch Canyons Tomorrow, resulted in a number of recommendations for use and development in the canyons. County officials said that document could be a starting point for public discussions. That effort, Corroon said, was led by Envision Utah with the county as one partner in the process.
One of its recommendations was to study the feasibility of assessing a parking fee to access recreational areas in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons. Corroon said the county is not presently seeking such a proposal.
Another recommendation was to offer public transportation in the Cottonwood canyons year-round. Presently, it is offered only during the winter. Utah Transit Authority oversees mass transit.
In a related matter, Corroon recently appointed a 15- member commission working to help update the county's Foothills, Canyon Overlay Zone Ordinance.
The ordinance applies to Parleys, Emigration, Millcreek, Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood canyons in unincorporated Salt Lake County as well as Rose and Butterfield canyons in the Oquirrh Mountains. The ordinance dates back to 1997.
Planning and Development Division director Rolen Yoshinaga said the commission may have recommendations as soon as October. The Salt Lake County Council would ultimately approve changes to the ordinance.
"My hope is, we can finish with the FCOZ Ordinance by the end of the year," Corroon said.
Meanwhile, three canyon transportation studies are under way in Mill Creek, Little Cottonwood and Big Cottonwood canyons. Those studies, which seek to improve public access to the area while protecting watersheds and wildlife, are expected to be completed this fall. One study is devoted solely to addressing parking conditions and future needs in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons.
Next week's open house is Thursday, 5 p.m., at the Millcreek Community Center, 2266 E. Evergreen Ave. (3435 South). Future times and dates will be posted at: www.pwpds.slco.org/generalSpecialPlans/generalPlan.html.
