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Letter: Shame on legislators for allowing Hideout land grab

Screen capture from Hideout Town Council meeting on Oct. 14, 2020.

Shame on our state legislators for enabling Hideout to annex and commercially develop Summit County land that has been zoned for decades as non-commercial. The Legislature repealed the bill (HB359) allowing for cross-county land annexation without consent of the county being annexed during the September special session. The repeal was overwhelmingly approved because it was seen as condoning a blatant land grab and because the legislators acknowledged being duped and lied to by a representative of the developer.

Legislators must have realized that given 60 days, Hideout and the developer would have time to craft a new annexation plan. By not eliminating the 60-day delay, the Legislature approved the land grab and facilitated Hideout and the developer’s plans.

Also shame on Hideout’s mayor, Mr. Rubin, for his disingenuous behavior. At the Oct. 12 Hideout council meeting, he was asked why Hideout didn’t commercially develop land within the current boundaries. He stated he wouldn’t do this because the Hideout land was previously zoned as residential and he would not go against a previous administration. So it’s OK to rezone Summit County land, but it’s not OK to rezone Hideout land? How can one trust someone who is selective in when he applies ethical values?

As was clear from the October 12 public meeting, in addition to antagonism by Summit County and Wasatch County neighbors, Hideout residents are also opposed to annexation. One wonders why a mayor and two council members would approve annexation that is opposed by their town’s residents and why the Legislature would say they repealed the bill yet include a loophole so annexation can proceed. The situation smacks of corruption and one wonders what kickbacks have been or will be involved.

Suzanne and Robert Rosenberg, Park City

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