Sugar House

Sugar house corner

gas station proposal

Former Sizzler site embroiled in controversy

By Kelli Case

In February earlier this year, Nathan Abbot, representing Galloway US, submitted a conditional use proposal to the SLC Planning Commision to build a Kum & Go convenience store and gas station on the parcel adjacent to the Sego Lily Plaza and the Draw at Sugar House Park (2111 South 1300 East). If the proposal is approved, it is assumed that the property owner, Romney Farr, will lease or sell the property to the Kum & Go Corporation for development.

For those who aren’t familiar, the Draw at Sugar House is both an art installation and a corridor for pedestrians and cyclists connecting Hidden Hollow and the business district to Sugar House Park. Of equal or greater significance, it doubles as a spillway and highly-engineered earthen dam for flood water from Parley’s Creek. The public art installation, entitled ‘Sego Lily’ (also known as Sego Lily Plaza), was designed by world-renowned environmental artist Patricia Johanson, and was constructed on top of the earthen dam, ‘Draw at Sugar House’.

Some Sugar House residents hope that preserving the integrity of the dam will be of utmost importance to the leaders of the Sugar House Park Authority, which is jointly governed and funded by Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County. Building a gas station would involve digging to install several under-

ground gas tanks, which are known to leak. And a leak would contaminate and degrade the water quality in Parley’s Creek as well as the downstream watershed the creek runs into.

Beyond protecting the dam and the purity of the water in Parley’s Creek, many residents are concerned that the Sego Lily art installation will be adequately protected as well. The artist and designer of ‘Sego Lily’, Patricia Johanson, wrote, “I would hate to see a gas station overlooking the ‘Sego Lily.’ It would be disruptive with cars and trucks pulling in and out all day and all night, and disturb the tranquility of the current scene. The [former] Sizzler site really should become part of Sugar House Park.”

Parley’s Trail board member, Lynne Olson, said, “Incorporating the corner lot into the park would honor the beautiful legacy of the people who decided the lot should become a special public park — the largest park in the area — after removing the prison.” Sugar House Park was developed in 1957 after the old State Prison, which formerly occupied that lot, was moved to the point of the mountain.

Lynne Olson, who is also a Sugar House resident, said, “There’s so much more at stake than additional green space. It’s about protecting the earthen dam and cherishing the beautiful environmental art. Few people grasp that the dam is an incredibly significant and important piece of public art and necessary infrastructure. The engineers and designers were brilliant. If you go around digging up the soil behind that earthen dam, it’s just common sense that’s a dumb thing to do.”

There has not been a public update since the call for public comment in March. Many Sugar House residents are wondering what is happening, particularly if the developer has progressed their plans. If changes are made to the conditional use proposal, they hope they will be publicized so there can be a public response.

Sugar House residents engaged on this issue want concerned Utah Stories readers to make phone calls to both the Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County Mayor’s offices letting them know the property should be incorporated into Sugar House Park and to preserve the integrity of the dam by not approving the gas station proposal. Below are links to contact their offices.

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September 10

Sandy City Horse Parade. Held starting at 9am at 70 E 8760 S, Sandy. After the parde the Sandy City Heritage Festival will be held at the Historic Main Street Park, 90 E 8720 S from 11am to 2pm. This is a free family event and all are invited.

September 10

Avenues Street Fair. This annual neighborhood event will be held on 2nd Avenue between F and L Streets. The Fair will run from 9am to 6pm starting off with a children’s parade. Kids, families, grandparents, and pets are all welcome and costumes are encouraged. Meet at 2nd Avenue and L Street at 8:45am to join the parde.

September 16-17

Green River Melon Days. This annual event is celebrating 116 years of the town’s famous melons and their growers. Held at the O.K. Anderson Park, 1000 Solomon Street, Green River. The festival begins at 12pm on September 16.

September

Ogden Harvest Moon Celebration. Harvest Moon is presented by the Ogden Downtown Alliance at Ogden’s Historic 25th Street. Celebrate th;e; end of summer from noon to 8pm for community activities, vendors, food, drinks, live music and more.

September 17-18

Festa Italiana at The Gateway. Founded by members of the Italian American Civic League, this two day festival features Italian entertainment, food booths from regions of Italian cuisine, Italian beer and wine garden, arts & crafts, historical displays, bocce tournament, live rafflets, Italian cars, street performers and more. The Gateway is located at 18 North Rio Grande Street. The festival will run from 12 to 10pm on Saturday, and 12 to 7pm on Sunday. Proceeds will support local and national non-profit charitable organizations supported by the Italian-American Civic League of Utah.

September 22-24

FanX Salt Lake Pop Culture & Comic Convention. FanX returns with new celebrity guests, cosplay, merchandise, games, and more for one of Salt Lake’s biggest parties. Thursday hours at 1pm (For VIP and Early Access) to 9pm, Friday 10am to 9pm, and Saturday 9:30am to 9pm. Go to the FanX website to purchase tickets in advance.

September 24

Wags to Wishes Gala at the Cleone Peterson Eccles Alumni House, 155 Central Campus Dr. The Humane Society of Utah is sponsoring this event to celebrate their lifesaving mission and programs. A VIP Puppy Lounge, reception hour, games, an executive terrace bar, dinner, classical music and more will be featured. The event runs from 6pm to 9pm and tickets can be purchased at www.utahhumane.org/how-to-help/gala.

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