BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah — About two weeks afternearly 100 trees were illegally cut down in Big Cottonwood Canyon, township officials stated they have determined the project is unpermitted and have issued a stop work order.
Township Executive Patrick Leary stated they responded to the report of tree cutting on the Silver Hill development and adjacent public and private properties on July 16 in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
“Upon looking into the incident we found the Silver Hill project to be unpermitted and identified more than 100 trees that contractors removed without authorization,” Leary stated. “To date we have issued a ‘stop work order’ on the Silver Hill development until it can come into compliance with the permitting process including a mitigation and remediation plan.”
Leary further stated they are working with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office and federal government to investigate the incident.
A representative for the developer who spoke with FOX 13 News after the incident said it was the result of a “serious miscommunication.”
