Snyderville Basin planning panel approves Rocky Mountain Power upgrades after residents press for clearer notice and undergrounding options

The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission voted July 23 to approve a conditional use permit allowing Rocky Mountain Power to upgrade roughly 16 miles of distribution infrastructure in the Summit Park and Timberline areas, replacing and relocating poles and moving some three‑phase lines underground as part of the utility’s wildfire mitigation work.

Jennifer, a county planner, told commissioners the application (project number 24076) would remove about 65 existing poles, replace about 17 with taller poles in places, and place portions of the three‑phase backbone underground where feasible as part of the Summit Park 11 circuit improvements. "As conditioned, the project complies with all of the applicable code standards found in the staff report," she said during her presentation.

Residents at the public hearing urged closer notice and asked whether burial was an option where lines run near homes. "I am here to argue against adopting the plan tonight on the basis that adequate public notice has not been given," said resident Steve Horvat, who said mailed postcards were vague and that parcel-level materials arrived too late for many neighbors to review. Betsy Neszek told commissioners the time window to see the proposal online was "very short," and urged the utility to bury lines in open meadow areas rather than install taller poles.

Rocky Mountain Power representative Richard Bartowska described the work and the practical limits of fully undergrounding services. He said the project focuses on moving primary three‑phase backbone circuits into conduit in road rights‑of‑way, setting new steel poles for heavier, insulated conductors where necessary, and leaving individual customer meter bases in place unless owners request and fund separate service conversions. "If people have an interest in going and undergrounding their service to their house, they can definitely submit a formal work request, and we can create an estimate and provide a price to be able to help facilitate that," Bartowska said.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on mitigation for cleared brush and tree removal, timeline and on‑site contractor communication. Bartowska said contractors typically door‑knock, leave notices and provide on‑site foreman contact information and that contractors’ payments are withheld until brush and fuels are cleared. He also said insulated or covered conductor can reduce ignition risk but adds weight that often requires steel poles to support the cable.

The commission debated whether it could impose a formal condition requiring open houses in each neighborhood. Legal counsel and staff cautioned that conditions must mitigate physical or operational impacts of the project; as an alternative, commissioners amended the approval to require the applicant, as part of its construction mitigation plan, to produce and distribute a Q&A fact sheet with a map, scope of work, revegetation standards, schedules and contractor contact details and to have the county post that material on its website. The applicant agreed to hold public information meetings but questioned placing that requirement as a permit condition; the commission nonetheless secured the Q&A and contact commitment in the permit package.

Commissioner Mooney moved to approve the conditional use permit based on the staff report findings and conditions; Commissioner Cook seconded. The commission recorded unanimous aye votes from members present.

The construction mitigation plan will set the detailed outreach, contractor contact points and revegetation standards; county staff said complaints about inadequate restoration should be directed to the county engineer, who enforces required bonds and completion standards. The applicant said it will attempt to install conduit and vaults this year and finish pole replacements and conductor work into spring, weather permitting.

The commission moved on to routine minutes approvals and other business after the vote. The planning agency will publish the permit materials and the Q&A fact sheet on the county website and the applicant has committed to outreach to affected neighborhoods before work begins.

Next steps: Rocky Mountain Power and its contractor will finalize the construction mitigation plan, and county engineering will review enforcement and bond requirements. Residents with site-specific concerns are encouraged to use the contact information that will be included in the fact sheet and posted on the county site.