Transmission lines at the old Cottonwood Mall site are being relocated. The bottom distribution lines connecting to buildings within the development are to be underground. The three vertically stacked transmission lines are to remain on poles. Trees that were located in the path of these new lines were removed. These trees were generally healthy, mature and very large trees. The developer’s representative states that, “the trees that fell within the City of Holladay Tree Ordinance will be replaced per the current policy, including additional trees that will be planted on Arbor Day in coordination with Rocky Mountain Power and the Arbor Committee.”
The developer had reached out to Rocky Mountain Power to request the transmission line be relocated. The developer was provided with alternate solutions for relocation, which could include an underground option. The cost of any options is borne by the developer, as the requesting party. It appears the least costly option was selected by that developer. That caused not only the removal of all the trees but caused the placement of large round steel covers on top of the ground with about five feet of metal mesh-like cylinders inserted into the ground. One of these is on the dirt edge of Big Cottonwood Creek. These large metal pieces are unsightly. The large metal poles to be attached to them along the edge of Arbor Lane will be even worse.
The developer requested a pole design keeping the conduit lower to the ground claiming that viewshed and some line of sight will be less impacted. Unfortunately, this means less vegetation underneath to meet RMP clearance standards for new construction given the elevated risk of high voltage. It means that only tree species that won’t grow to greater heights can be planted. It took dozens of years to grow the trees that were destroyed. The transmission lines could have been relocated underground, but the developer apparently wouldn’t pay that cost except for lines running within his development. It seems the few with the most resources made harmful decisions for our larger neighborhood.
Camille Pierce, Holladay