A new lawsuit filed by developer Richard Losee with Utah's fourth district court on Wednesday aims to overturn the Utah County Commission's decision to block future development of Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon.
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Nearly one month after the Utah County Commission voted to permanently protect Bridal Veil Falls, a private developer who hoped to build a rehab lodge there has sued the county.
The fate of Bridal Veil Falls is once again in question.
Private developer Richard Losee whose plans to build a private rehab lodge atop the popular Utah County attraction generated controversy last month filed a lawsuit against the county Tuesday.
His complaint alleges the county did not follow proper legal channels when the three-member commission voted last month to permanently place the falls into a conservation easement.
Losee’s attorney, Bruce Baird, said the county also failed to get fair compensation for its land, which he argues is a violation of Utah law. He added his client hopes to overturn the commission’s December decision and allow for a new vote on the issue.
Richard Losee had ambitions to develop a private addiction treatment lodge at the top of the falls, along with an aerial tramway. “The only reason for granting such an easement was to prevent a future [commission] from allowing some other use of the Bridal Veil Falls Property,” the developer claims.
Editorâs note:
In a series running through Dec. 31, the Daily Herald is sharing its picks for âUtah Countyâs Top 10 News Stories for 2020.â We will be running recaps of those stories, two per day, through New Yearâs Eve. This story is ranked No. 4.
The Utah County Commissionâs decision to approve a conservation easement for Bridal Veil Falls and, by doing so, prevent future private development at the beloved Provo Canyon landmark, is Utah Countyâs fourth biggest story of the year.
Commissioner Bill Lee was caught off guard when Commissioner Nathan Ivie on Nov. 18 proposed scheduling a public hearing to discuss a conservation easement for Bridal Veil Falls.