The fate of The Old Mill may be determined by the current election. citizens’ requests to save the Old Mill. Neither attendance at City Councils nor Planning Commission Meetings, nor personal meetings, nor a petition with over 3000 signatures have changed the current direction we are heading of tearing down the Old Mill to build apartments.
Furthermore, the mayor made a unilateral decision for the entire community when he told the owners that ‘Cottonwood Heights is not interested in preserving the Old Mill.’ This emboldened the land owner to petition the city dto immediately demolish the Old Mill.
This preemptive decision was made by Mayor Weichers and City Councilman Horton alone. The governing bodies of the city - the City Council, the Planning Commission, & the Historical Committee were simply informed. There was no vote and no discussion!
If we wish to preserve the Big Cottonwood Creek Canyon Natural area and the Old Mill, we must take action! The question is whether or not it will be too late if Mayor Weichers is Reelected? After writing Salt Lake County Parks & Rec, I was told they would be supportive of Cottonwood Heights expanding the current Old Mill Park property by annexing the adjacent open space along the Cottonwood Trail and The Old Mill.
From Salt Lake Co. Parks & Rec:
“It falls under the jurisdiction of Cottonwood Heights City. As such, decisions regarding its preservation and development are made at the municipal level by Cottonwood Heights' elected officials and their planning commission.
The County’s Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Committee is an excellent resource for preserving land, which functions by reviewing and recommending funding for open space applications.’
Given the mayors track record on this subject, the fate of The Old Mill may be determined by the current election.