INTRO
Welcome back to another week of Summit County news on Summit in Six. We’ve got important election news and updates on some big projects like Cedar Crest and the Ure Ranch as well as Kimball Junction/ 224 traffic study updates. Let’s get started.
ELECTIONS INFORMATION
The 2024 Democratic Presidential Primary Election is coming on March 5, 2024. If you’re a registered voter that has declared their party as “Democrat”, or requested a Democratic ballot in writing, you should have received your ballot in the mail in mid-February. For voting information, please visit summitcounty.org/elections.
Also on March 5, 2024, both the Summit County Republican and Democratic parties will hold a caucus to choose their party’s leadership for the next two years. The Republican Caucus will vote on their preferred presidential candidate nominee in addition to selecting their party’s leadership. Questions? Visit: summitcountyutgop.org/caucus/ or scdems.org/
CEDAR CREST (Derek)
The Cedar Crest Village Overlay project was back in front of the Eastern Summit County Planning Commission this week.
On Thursday, February 29, the commission held another work session related to the project. They heard specifics from Larry H. Miller Real Estate about infrastructure phasing, water and traffic impacts, and their affordable housing proposal. If you couldn’t make the meeting, you can listen back to hear the details at summitcounty.info/cedarcrest229.
Following the applicant’s presentation, the Planning Commission continued the public hearing related to the overlay project and heard from several members of the community. Comments were mostly focused on how the proposal will impact surrounding properties, traffic and road impacts beyond Hoytsville Road, and what community benefits the project will bring the community outside of additional housing.
Another work session and public hearing for Cedar Crest is scheduled for Thursday, March 21 at the Ledges Event Center beginning at 6 PM. More information on that meeting, including a virtual Zoom attendance option, can be found on the homepage of summitcounty.org under the News section.
And now, we’re going to take a quick break to learn about a short bit of Summit County History, from our intern, Alaina.
HENEFER, ECHO, and the PONY EXPRESS
Despite its modest size, Henefer holds a significant amount of Western history. John’s Park is a small park in the town of Henefer that serves as a historical marker of the area in which Pony Express riders once passed through.
The new pioneer spirit drew settlers to the area, making it an ideal stopping place for goods, services, and information.
Weber Station was a multipurpose space that included a general store, blacksmith shop, saloon and jail. Its location at the mouth of Echo Canyon made it an ideal stop along the Pony Express route.
Young Pony Express riders, William Page and George Little, would thunder past Cache Cave, and down into Echo Canyon as they headed to Salt Lake City carrying messages and goods.
URE RANCH OPEN HOUSE
On Thursday evening, Summit County hosted a second information session in Kamas about the Ure Ranch Property acquisition and gathered public input on what the community would like to see the land used for in the future. County Lands and Natural Resources Director Jess Kirby gave a short presentation summarizing findings from hundreds of public comments received at the first open house and online since late January.
She went into detail about what a conservation easement is and the positive outlook of the county’s efforts to preserve the North Meadows for agricultural use and open space thanks to collaborative efforts with Summit Land Conservancy. The evening closed out with an engagement activity where attendees used stickers to indicate their sentiments about proposed ideas for portions of the 834-acre property.
If you would like to contact Jess and her team directly with questions about this land acquisition, feel free to email: countylands@summitcounty.org
Stay up to date on all things related to the Ure Ranch by subscribing to the project-specific email list: summitcounty.info/ureranchnews and visiting summitcounty.info/ureranch
KIMBALL JUNCTION Environmental Impact Statement
UDOT has reached the next milestone for the environmental study they’re working on for the I-80 and SR-224 area.
They published the Alternatives Development and Screening Report, which identifies criteria and measures to evaluate each multi-modal alternative (potential transportation improvements), details the screening process (how options move forward or are eliminated), and identifies which alternatives are carried forward for detailed evaluation in the Draft EIS.
They evaluated three alternatives (presented to you last year based on the Kimball Junction Area Plan) and two are moving forward for further consideration in the EIS process.
Alternative A: a new split-diamond interchange that directs local traffic off of Interstate 80 prior to Kimball Junction, a pedestrian underpass at state Route 224
And Alternative C, extended turn lanes, lane widening, and a pedestrian underpass at SR-224.
UDOT is looking for characteristics of all alternatives for the final design and evaluation.
UDOT is asking for Summit County residents’ help to find transportation solutions for our community by taking some time to review their report. They are looking for your input on the alternative screening process, the initial impacts analysis, the alternatives they’ll evaluate in the Draft EIS, and any new ideas you might have.
The comment period is open now through March 27, 2024. To give comment and learn more, you can visit the project website: kimballjunctioneis.udot.utah.gov/
You can also share your ideas with UDOT by emailing kimballjunctioneis@utah.gov or calling 435-255-3186.
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