Quality of Life in Cottonwood Heights

(Ellen wrote this article originally in 2021. She has updated it in November, 2023)

Maintaining the “city between the canyons” as a place where we, the residents, can enjoy a high quality of life is what my constituents tell me consistently.

We can and should be looking for ways to engage in strategic city planning. Our city is the gateway to Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons and can be developed to convey a sense of arrival, not a set of highways and parking lots.

Why not create the feeling for Cottonwood Heights’ visitors that they have already arrived to an amazing destination? Let’s capitalize on the natural beauty framing our wonderful city so that those that spend any time AND MONEY see those things instead of huge billboards, blazing traffic,  austere office complexes, and oceans of black asphalt.

As your representative, I support Smart City Planning that takes into consideration the residents that live here, the visitors that will come here, and all the many ways they might move through the city be it in cars, buses, shuttles, bikes, or walking. Specifically, I see the way forward by strategically incorporating into our city planning a land use system called Form Based Code for best short and long term benefits. I also see that we need a phased-in approach in our city toward walkability. We can beautify our city while we make our roadways slower and safer. Discouraging fast-moving drive through traffic and encouraging locals and visitors to get out of their cars to shop, stroll and patronize Cottonwood Heights restaurants, shops and services.

10-minute “walking sheds” are part of a Smart City planning approach. Over time, even residents in single family neighborhoods, could walk to nearby green spaces, small parks, small commercial (coffee shop, small market, bakery, etc). This kind of “multi-use” development through Form Based Code maintains the character but makes our communities safer and healthier over time.

Residents are questioning the continuing subsidization of large commercial developments. Canyon Corporate Center, the Canyon Centre, North Gravel Pit, Walsh Farm Apartments (in Cottonwood Hts northwest edge) and others. Will a new subdivision obstruct mountain views and/or induce vehicular traffic through our streets, collectors, arterials?

Smart City Planning including Form Based Code gives us the opportunity to make some really good decisions about what the future of our great city might look like so that everyone can enjoy it.

When we re-design roadways that slow vehicules, especially on Fort Union Blvd, with traffic calming features such as landscaping, dedicated bike lanes and walkways — these are called “Compete Streets”. For example, the CH 2017 Fort Union Blvd Master Plan describes creating a “Main Street feeling” along the middle section of Fort Union from approximately 2700 East to 1500 East altering the existing roadway and scape to bring restaurants, services and shop fronts near wide sidewalks instead of the existing fast 4-lanes of speed and strip malls. Locals and visitors alike will get out of their cars. Linger. Shop. Patronize our local businesses. Isn’t that the city you want? Should city council consider a re-zone to multi-use development encouraging business on ground level and

What does incentivizing hotels, big office structures, more parking lots and high density housing that isn't located on or near transit do?  It brings more high-speed vehicular traffic and the associated vehicular injuries, fatalities, noise and pollution. BTW, I favor the TRT Transient Room Tax that comes from CH having hotels strategically placed along transit and/or shuttle & bus routes. Savvy travelers are accustomed to taking shuttles and transit. IMHO, CH lost out when we did not obtain UTA commitment and have a bus pull out incorporated into the Canyon Centre design. It has proven to be impractical for skiers, or hikers, for that matter to take advantage of the current free parking in the parking garage on the south side of Marriott Hotel. To schlep one’s ski equipment from that garage over to and across the hellacious intersection of Fort Union and Wasatch Blvd to walk another 100 yards to the UTA bus stop is a non-starter.

Do we want more Behemoth projects and the additional traffic they bring? 

As the founder of the resident coalition Save Not Pave, I worked tirelessly to help shed light on the sobering truth of UDOT's plan for as few as six or as many as seven-lane width for SR210/Wasatch Blvd’s “Bengal/Golden Hills Corridor” (see 2019 Wasatch Blvd Master Plan) accompanied by commercial sound walls was brought to a ROD Record of Decision by UDOT in August, 2023.

UDOT's detailed 2023 ROD shows a 2.7 mile straighter, multi-lane highway design for Wasatch Blvd that further fractures our neighborhoods and induces more motorists to commute along the eastern foothills. Since UDOT’s explanation for their expansion is based on projected high volume of southbound, year-round commuters, it is impractical that the five-laned Highland Drive is not even under consideration for the addition of non-stop transit that could remove any necessity for expanding Wasatch Blvd. 

Why not elect individuals to the city council now who understand the importance of a detailed vision and offer viable solutions? Has a candidate educated him/herself on Smart City planning including transit and active transportation alternatives?

There needs to be willing collaboration to foster the growth that will promote walkability, active transportation and Smart City development.

City government needs to look after the residents, the taxpayers of this city.

I am now working hard with staff and the mayor meeting with UDOT Region 2 Director toward immediate remedies for the Bengal/Golden Hills Corridor that will establish this foothill, gateway to Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons as a family friendly, safe, beautiful, walk & rideable place.

I am also in outreach to our neighboring cities of Sandy, Midvale and Holladay toward a shared vision where recreationalists can thrive year round in our foothills and canyons.

It will take all of us rallying to collaborate and influence our city leaders. Together, yes! Yes, we can!