I moved to my first ski town in search of deep powder in 1994, and I quickly discovered that the small ski towns of the West offer far more than just skiing. These former mining towns provide an alternative to city life with tight-knit communities, vast open spaces, minimal traffic, and stunning natural beauty. Anyone who has made a charming ski town like Park City their home was likely drawn by these very qualities.The most troubling aspect of the Summit County Council’s recent approval of the Dakota Pacific development is that it directly undermines the core values that define Park City. Parkites deeply cherish our open spaces, trails, wildlife, streams, and the preservation of our natural surroundings. When Dakota Pacific acquired the land, it was zoned for tech and research-related commercial buildings. Therefore, Dakota Pacific’s proposal to rezone the parcel for residential use should have been non-negotiable from the beginning. Build what you bought!At the final public hearing for this project, Dakota Pacific presented plans for pedestrian overpasses and multi-story buildings. These urban structures are the type of architecture and density that most Parkites moved here to avoid. If we wanted high-rises and pedestrian bridges, we would reside in urban areas, but we chose Park City for its open space and small-town Western vibe. The developers of this project are not part of our community and clearly lack an understanding or respect for our values and sensibilities. Dakota Pacific’s management team resides in Salt Lake City, and their sole objective is to profit from a community that they are not a member of. They seem indifferent to the consequences of adding 750 residential units, which would bring roughly 2,000 new residents, increasing Park City’s full-time population by about 15%. This influx will strain our schools, water resources, traffic and the overall landscape. As anyone living in Park City knows, traffic around Kimball Junction is already a significant problem. Adding another 750 residential units and commercial space will only exacerbate the issue. Furthermore, the construction phase will span multiple years and will introduce large-scale construction vehicles dragging mud and supplies through Kimball Junction.I attended several of the public hearings on this project, and the one thing that was consistent was that the people of Park City were vehemently against this project. At every meeting, when the council asked for community feedback, long lines of residents stood ready to voice their objections. This is why I am deeply disappointed in the Summit County Council members who voted to approve this development. These council members were elected to represent the people of Summit County, yet their vote to approve this project directly contradicts the will of Park City residents. I struggle to understand how they could, in good conscience, decide that this project is in the best interest of Park City. Roger Armstrong, the sole dissenting vote, deserves praise for his courage. Armstrong was quoted as saying that the other four council members who approved the project “were taking a bullet for the community” and “doing something that I believe is distasteful to them.” Elected officials take an oath to represent their constituents, and in my view, if they fail to do so, they should resign.CJ WolfPark CityThe post Dakota Pacific disgrace appeared first on Park Record.