Park City Planning Commissioner Appointed, Represented Resort

Attorney Adam Strachan, who has long defended Park City Mountain in personal injury cases, returns to the planning panel.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:08pm

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The Prospector resident tapped for a seat on the Park City Planning Commission is an attorney who has long represented Park City Mountain in personal-injury cases. Adam Strachan, the owner of a law firm based in Prospector that has for decades defended Park City Mountain and other clients in the ski industry, is a former member of the Planning Commission, serving for nearly a decade before retiring from the panel in early 2018. Mayor Ryan Dickey appointed Strachan this week after a midterm vacancy was created with the resignation of Bill Johnson.

Why it matters

Strachan's appointment raises potential conflicts of interest, as the Planning Commission will soon be discussing a package of lift improvements sought by Park City Mountain, a longtime client of Strachan's law firm. This highlights the complex relationships between local government, ski resorts, and the attorneys who represent them.

The details

Strachan said he does not represent Park City Mountain or resort owner Vail Resorts in capacities other than personal-injury cases. He will receive standard training in legal matters from the municipal government's attorneys as he returns to the Planning Commission, and will decide whether to recuse himself from certain Planning Commission matters on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with municipal attorneys. Park City Mountain wants to replace three lifts, including building a six-passenger lift as a replacement for two existing ones and putting in an eight-passenger lift as an upgrade to the Silverlode Express.

  • Strachan served on the Planning Commission for nearly a decade before retiring in early 2018.
  • Mayor Ryan Dickey appointed Strachan to the Planning Commission this week after a midterm vacancy was created with the resignation of Bill Johnson.
  • The Planning Commission in late March started its discussions about a package of lift improvements sought by Park City Mountain.

The players

Adam Strachan

An attorney who owns a law firm based in Prospector that has for decades defended Park City Mountain and other clients in the ski industry. He is a former member of the Planning Commission, serving for nearly a decade before retiring from the panel in early 2018.

Ryan Dickey

The mayor of Park City who appointed Strachan to the Planning Commission this week.

Bill Johnson

A former member of the Planning Commission who recently resigned, creating the midterm vacancy that Strachan was appointed to fill.

Park City Mountain

A ski resort in Park City, Utah that is seeking to replace three lifts, including building a six-passenger lift and putting in an eight-passenger lift.

Vail Resorts

The owner of Park City Mountain resort.

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What they’re saying

“It's just not something I would say 'no' to. It's a pretty big request.”

— Adam Strachan, Attorney and Planning Commissioner

“Strachan in 2022, as a private citizen, testified in support of the Park City Mountain lift upgrades during a previous process that was ultimately unsuccessful for the resort. His comments that summer were made to the Planning Commission and included praise for Park City Mountain for what he said was 'over-mitigating' key topics like parking.”

— Adam Strachan, Attorney and Planning Commissioner

What’s next

Strachan will have taken the seat on the Planning Commission by the time the panel holds more detailed talks about the Park City Mountain lift improvement proposals.

The takeaway

Strachan's appointment to the Planning Commission despite his long history of representing Park City Mountain raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest, highlighting the complex relationships between local government, ski resorts, and the attorneys who represent them. The situation underscores the need for robust recusal policies and transparency around such appointments.