Will Recommend Stopping All But Emergency Medical Operations

The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission will put forward a recommendation banning all but emergency medical helicopters from the recreational area following a two-hour meeting last week.

About 40 people attended the meeting, with 10 speaking strongly against helicopters in the area, according to a report from the Park Record newspaper.

Snyderville Basin is near Park City, UT, east of Salt Lake City. The Summit County staff has asked the commission to consider amending the development code that lists helicopters and associated uses.

The ordinance, which has yet to be finalized, would establish a permitting process designating several areas in the Basin as approved landing sites, with exceptions for emergency services and special events.

But one resident said that "special events" needs a specific definition because "it is one big festival every weekend" in Park City.

Most of the speakers said that no new landing zones should be approved in the area.

Helicopters are not mentioned in the Snyderville Basin Development Code, which means they are not allowed by default, according to the report. But two helicopter companies offered shuttle service to and from the Sundance Film Festival last year, drawing complaints from nearby residents.

Following that incident, the Summit County Council put a temporary ban on new helicopter landing sites in place in March. That ordinance expires Sept. 9.

The commission voted to recommend that the Summit County Council add helicopters to its Development Code, with select services specifically allowed. Air Taxi and private-use helicopters would not be able to obtain a permit to operate in the area, but some existing operations, such as heli-skiing, would be grandfathered in under the proposed ordinance.

FMI: www.co.summit.ut.us,http://basinrecreation.org/