The Town of Alta is currently accepting public comments on a significant development proposal that will affect the future of Albion Basin and access to Grizzly Gulch. The deadline to submit comments is Friday, March 28 at 11:59 PM. Though only open for 3 days, this optional feedback form is one of many steps that will take place in the planning process over the coming years. Save Our Canyons has requested a 30-day extension of the feedback form, we will keep you updated if it is extended, and about future opportunities to shape the outcome of this proposed development. 

Click here to submit your feedback before Midnight on 3/28!

More details:

In 2014, the Estate of JoAnne L. Shrontz was permitted to develop ten 8,500 square foot homes along the Albion Basin Summer Road, right in the middle of the standard backcountry touring approach to Grizzly Gulch. 11 years later, the developer submitted a new development concept that replaces those homes with a six-story condominium building at the lower portion of the parcel and the creation of a perpetual conservation easement on the upper 20 acres above the Albion Basin Summer Road. This plan is being presented as an alternative to a previously permitted 10-lot residential subdivision, which includes no conservation protections. Because this development on privately-owned land was already permitted in 2014, the ability to completely stop this development is limited. This alternative does, however, present an opportunity to consolidate impacts to a smaller footprint and solidify access to backcountry recreation. 

The Summer Road is a beloved gateway to some of the most treasured backcountry destinations in the Wasatch: Grizzly Gulch, Wolverine Cirque, and Patsey Marley. Any development in this area will have lasting consequences for ecosystem health, water quality, recreational access, and traffic congestion in an already overburdened Canyon.

While Save Our Canyons would prefer neither option come to fruition, we believe that consolidating development near the base of the property is the lesser of two evils. The proposed conservation easement would help ensure the upper portion remains undeveloped and limit future attempts to widen the Summer Road—an important protection for the character and ecological integrity of the area.

We strongly urge the Alta Planning Commission to:

• Propose a third alternative that shortens the height of the proposed 6-story condominium to reduce impacts on the character and beauty of Albion Basin.
• Guarantee public access to Grizzly Gulch, Patsey Marley, and Wolverine Cirque in perpetuity by including it within the conservation easement.
• Increase the percentage of workforce housing units in the condominium development to reduce Canyon congestion and support workers who struggle to find stable housing options in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Our Submitted Responses

If you had to choose one of these two development concepts, which would you choose?
Condominium Building with Conservation Easement above the Summer Road

Why do you prefer that alternative to the other? What do you think the pros and cons to each alternative are?

The single-family unit alternative presents several concerns for Save Our Canyons and our members. It would contribute to the sprawl of development into relatively undisturbed alpine lands, impacting overall ecosystem function and increasing the likelihood of conflicts between private homeowners and recreators. This alternative does not include a conservation easement, leaving the area more vulnerable to future development pressures. Additionally, any increase in housing capacity, especially those that are not designated for worker housing, will inevitably lead to increased Canyon congestion. However, this option does offer the advantage of a shorter building height, which may result in less visual impact on the surrounding landscape.

The condominium alternative also poses challenges. Its taller building height will negatively affect the pristine visual character of the upper Canyon. While an extra 3 units of workforce housing will be helpful, 30 new units of non-worker housing will certainly increase congestion in an already overloaded Canyon. On the other hand, it includes a conservation easement that would place meaningful limits on future development and help preserve public access for recreation—an important consideration in long-term land use planning. For this alternative to be successful and well-received by the community, we suggest shortening the overall height and increasing the percentage of workforce housing units, without expanding the footprint.

Please provide any additional comments, thoughts or feelings on the development alternatives. Please keep in mind that more steps remain in the process before any development concept moves forward.

While Save Our Canyons would prefer neither option come to fruition, we prefer consolidated development near the base of this property. We believe the conservation easement will ensure the upper area is not developed in the future, and would limit any further attempts to widen the summer road.

We encourage the Town of Alta Planning Commission to ensure public access to Grizzly Gulch, Patsey Marley, and Wolverine cirque are protected in perpetuity, and request it be designated in the conservation easement. While we do not want to see a 130,000 sq. ft condo, we encourage the Commission to push for an increase in the percentage of workforce housing units in the condo development. This will limit impacts of the development on Canyon congestion, while supporting the workers who already have a difficult time finding stable housing in the Canyon. Further, to reduce disturbance of the Canyon’s visual character, we request a new alternative that shortens the height of the proposed condominium without expanding the footprint.

Any development in pristine alpine lands will disturb ecosystem function, water quality, traffic congestion, and habitat connectivity. Our hope is that the Town of Alta planning commission will choose the lesser-of-evils, and preserve public access while doing so.

Take Action

Click here to submit your comment before Friday, March 28 at 11:59 PM

Your voice matters. Encourage the Town of Alta to prioritize conservation, access, and long-term sustainability in its planning process. Let’s protect the beauty and wildness of the Wasatch Mountains for future generations.

The 2025 Utah General Legislative Session just concluded after 45 days chock-full of bills that would have negatively impacted the beauty and wildness of the Wasatch. Luckily we have you - dedicated members of Save Our Canyons who show up time and time again in the name of preservation.

Updated 3/6/25

Good news, your advocacy is working!

In the second half of the 2025 Utah Legislative Session, we asked Save Our Canyons members to contact elected officials about two bills that would have been bad news for the Wasatch. Together, we sent nearly 3,000 messages to Senators and Representatives voicing our concerns, and it worked! Thanks to your advocacy, Senate Bill 337 was never brought to a floor vote, and Senate Bill 316 was substituted to remove the most concerning section.

SB 337 - Land Use and Development Amendments

Senate Bill 337 would have established the “Beehive Development Authority”. Among other duties, this quasi-governmental entity would have funneled taxpayer dollars into major development projects with little community involvement or oversight.

The Community Impact Projects established by the authority would have been initiated and led by developers, offering limited opportunities for genuine community input—despite the inclusion of the word “community” in the name. Our primary concern is that this would have created a pot of taxpayer money that ski resorts and gravel pit operators could have used for private development here in the Wasatch. Along with many other groups concerned about this power grab, we were successful in stalling the momentum of this bill to prevent it from passing this legislative session.

Though the bill has no feasible way of moving forward, we will continue tracking it along with other bills to ensure there is no funny business. Read more on SB 337’s demise in this Salt Lake Tribune article. 

SB 316 - Military Installation Development Authority and Other Development Zone Amendments

Senate Bill 316 is the annual clean-up bill for the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA). In addition to funding defense developments in the state, MIDA is responsible for funding ski resort expansion in the Wasatch to the tune of several hundred-million dollars.

To learn more, read these Salt Lake Tribune articles about MIDA-funded developments at both Sundance and Deer Valley. We are very concerned about the misuse of MIDA bonds to facilitate resort expansion in the Wasatch, but our primary concern with this bill was a provision allowing MIDA to act as the lead agency in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

This would have allowed this quasi-governmental authority to assume the role of a state agency in Environmental Impact Statements and Assessments in sensitive ecosystems. After over 2,000 messages to elected officials, the sponsor of this bill removed that provision in the third substitute, which was adopted. Save Our Canyons is still very critical of the misuse of MIDA funds for ski resort developments, and will continue to oppose any expansion of this authority until our concerns are addressed.

What's next?

We are never shocked to see bad bills surface in the final week of the Utah Legislative Session—it’s a tactic we’ve come to expect. Rushed, last-minute proposals like these are designed to limit public scrutiny and fast-track developments that would otherwise face serious opposition. Though we dodged a few bullets this session, there is still plenty of work to be done to limit the amount of taxpayer dollars subsidizing private development in the Wasatch. We will continue to watch these efforts vigorously, and keep you updated with any ways you can help preserve the beauty and wildness of the Wasatch. 

Yours for the Wasatch, 
Save Our Canyons Team

UPDATE February 10, 2025:
After a narrow loss on the House Floor on 2/5, this bill was reintroduced by Representative Christine Watkins on 2/6. We are excited to announce that it passed the House on the second attempt, and has moved along to the Senate where it will hopefully be assigned to committee in this week. We urge you to reach out to your Senator to voice support for this bill as it moves through the Senate. Click here to find your Senator and their contact info. 

Early during this 2025 Utah General Legislative Session, HB 196 - Vehicle Traction Amendments was introduced by Representative Gay Lynn Bennion. This bill exemplifies a low-impact, cost-efficient solution to improve congestion issues both across the state and in the Tri-Canyon area. While solving the transportation problem isn’t the core of our mission, we believe that solutions like this can add up to address the bigger problems that impact the overall health of the Wasatch Mountains and that changes to existing programs can effectively reduce the congestion issues plaguing our Canyons. Representative Bennion represents House District 41, which includes the Cottonwood Canyons and Cottonwood Heights, areas frequently impacted by congestion caused by drivers without traction devices such as snow chains or snow tires. We support and commend this statewide effort that will have significant local impacts. The first section of this bill simply clarifies language around Traction Law, but the rubber hits the snow where it gives rulemaking authority to the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) for traction control issues, and local highway authorities (Like UDP) the ability to implement ordinances concerning when and how the law is implemented, including before a predicted storm. Furthermore, this bill codifies that a person who violates this policy or any associated ordinances may be ticketed up to $750. This proposed policy change is compatible with our vision for a healthier, safer, and congestion-free Wasatch, which also includes a connected transportation plan, along with improved bus services in the valley and Canyons for more equitable access.More on Traction Law

Utah administrative rule R920-6 authorizes UDOT and local law enforcement to require traction devices on all vehicles traveling certain sections of highways during severe winter weather events. When traction law is enforced in the Cottonwood Canyons, travelers are notified by signs at the base of the Canyons, on the UDOT Cottonwood Canyons website and on their Instagram page. In addition to a minimum tire tread depth of 5/32”, the following equipment is required in the Canyons when Traction Law is in effect:

2WD vehicles must have 3-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) tires on all four wheels or snow chains/snow socks on at least two wheels. 

4WD vehicles must have M+S or M/S all-season tires on all four wheels, though adding snow chains, snow socks, or 3PMSF tires improves safety and reliability.

To streamline the inspection process, drivers who meet these requirements are eligible to participate in the UDOT Cottonwood Canyons Sticker Program, which includes free pre-inspection at a number of participating tire shops. Voluntary participation in this program is intended to streamline the inspection process at in-canyon enforcement points to limit congestion. 

Initially implemented in 2018, Traction Law has been difficult for officials to enforce due to lack of resources and authority. This has allowed many drivers to skirt the rules; in frequent and unfortunate cases, these drivers become the head of the infamous Red Snake by causing accidents, slide-offs, and spin-outs. A portion of the Cottonwood Canyons Transportation Investment Fund was allocated for public safety enforcement in 2024 (HB 488), a first step to address the lack of resources, leading to increased enforcement this season. 2025’s HB 196 is the next step in ensuring there is proper authority and accountability to enforce Traction Law and an example of how consistent efforts can solve problems on the ground.  

Building on these efforts, we would like to see future changes that support improved transit infrastructure in the valley to connect people to the Canyons via buses, along with enhanced service in the Canyons. Complementary measures that include tolling for automobiles, parking reservation systems, and a visitor capacity study will help ensure that we do not love the Wasatch to death. 

We applaud this effort by Representative Bennion as part of a larger effort to promote public safety and reduce congestion in the Wasatch. We see on-the-ground efforts like this as critical to addressing the transportation issues facing our community, curtailing any arguments for off-the-ground development projects. 

Updated 3/5/25
As initially written, HB 355 would have dramatically increased the likelihood of the proposed gravel pit in Parley's Canyon. After two substitutions, the definition of a "vested critical infrastructure material use" has been altered to the point where that is unlikely - watch the House Floor Debate to hear the sponsor's statements on the matter. Along with other groups opposed to the proposed gravel pit in Parley's Canyon, Save Our Canyons members sent over 10,000 messages to elected officials asking them to oppose or substitute this bill. This public input was incredibly successful, contributing to the bill's substitution and allowing us to disable our action alert.

Though there are still concerning loopholes opened up by this bill that could impact Parley's Canyon, the official position of Salt Lake County is that direct impacts to the proposed gravel pit are now unlikely. This bill does however raise major concerns around the rights of cities and counties to determine where and how they source aggregates for developments. We understand that as Utah grows, more aggregate will be needed. We support informed decision-making by local authorities to determine the best places to source aggregate with community input. As it stands, we disagree with the overall intention of the bill because it overrides local authority, but we appreciate the sponsor's efforts to work with Salt Lake County to find common ground. 

Primary Concerns:

• This bill would permit gravel pit operators to expand operations to every square inch of land they own or purchase before 1/1/2026, as long as they get proper permits from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.
• In many instances this could override local land-use authority, such as Salt Lake County's 2022 ban on mines in the Foothills and Canyons. 
• This bill would shift the burden of proof from the mine operator to the public. If a gravel pit use is either not "vested" or would be harmful to a local community, it would be up to that community to expend resources proving that. 
• Unfettered expansion of existing gravel pits caused by this bill would undoubtedly impact local water resources, air quality, property values, recreation economy, and neighboring wilderness areas.

We believe that the communities that see both the benefits and impacts of expanded gravel mines should have the authority to determine where those gravel mines are placed.