As you drive north into Salt Lake City along Foothill Drive, look to the east as you pass I-80 and you will see a white wall rising on the once peaceful east bench slopes.
This wall is not pretty. It is additional evidence of how we take what is left of green space and turn it into roads for private homes. The Bonneville shoreline trail is compromised.
The first phase of the project is governed by Salt Lake County, and the final phase governed by Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake County could not care less about aesthetics as affects the city. So a large multilevel wall rises several feet in the air. It is prettier than the Trump border wall, but this wall is an eyesore nonetheless.
This project should never have been authorized, but that is past history. The land behind the wall will be raised to facilitate views of the valley from the 13 new homes to be constructed on the construction site.
The natural lay of the land from the Bonneville shoreline trail east is a gentle downward slope of several hundred feet until the slope flattens out and meets the descending hill. The natural lay of the land is being altered, which is wrong — plain and simple. The lay of the land was known when the land was purchased. However, the officials of Salt Lake County gave variances to permit the alteration of the natural slope of the land.
I do not blame the developer for seeking slope and territorial land change. Or for building the ugly wall.
I do blame the officials of Salt Lake County for not caring about green space and allowing our pretty scenery to be marred and lost forever. Shame on them. Vote out all county officials seeking reelection. Let us, start fresh. We have nothing to lose.
Bruce Cohne, Salt Lake City
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