The Summit County Council postponed making a decision Wednesday night on rezoning 240 acres in the southeast corner of Silver Creek Junction for the Silver Creek Village Center, despite the developer’s offer to include an additional 110 workforce units.
The Silver Creek Village development has already been approved for increased density under the county’s old Matrix Code and been given a positive recommendation by the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission. But the developers need the council to rezone the southeast corner of Interstate 80 and U.S. 40 as a Specially Planned Area to allow for the 960 market-rate housing units, 330 workforce housing units and 50,000 feet of commercial space.
In August, the council requested that project managers Jeff Graham and Eric Langvardt increase the amount of workforce housing units and decrease the amount of open space in the community. Developers added an additional 110 workforce units as well as 110 market rate units and decreased the amount of open space from 171 acres to 154.
Scott Loomis, Director of Mountainlands Community Housing Trust said they are working with the developers to create successful workforce housing and defended the developer’s one-to-one increase in market rate to workforce housing units.
“Workforce housing does not come cheap,” said project manager Jeff Graham. “What we came up with is a way for us to work through that while still being able to offer a lot of it.”
However, the council had some concerns about the changes.
“With an increase in workforce and market rate units, the traffic flow will be significantly increased,” said Council Chair Chris Robinson. “I have doubts if the two roundabouts that are in place can handle the increase.”
Residents who spoke at the public hearing were supportive of the project, but also questioned the traffic impacts it would have on the surrounding community.
“If there isn’t a grocery store included in the community’s commercial area, the traffic to and from Kimball Junction just for that purpose would be significant,” said Glenwild resident Rich Sonntag.
Summit County resident Dave Allen wrote a letter to the council suggesting they wait to see if the work force housing being built by the Boyer Company near the Tanger Outlets is successful before creating more. Councilmember Claudia McMullen replied that the housing being built by Boyer will not be sufficient enough to even house all of its employees.
Nearby residents also have reservations about the density increase.
“The plan and design look great and will be a great addition to our community. But this development will be right in between Silver Creek and our access to public trails,” said Silver Creek resident Dawn Bowes. “Will the trails that are provided throughout the community be suitable for the equine community?”
Langvardt said multiple trails will be provided but that Basin Recreation would be responsible for the type of trails that are built.
The developers told the council they had yet to speak with the water and sewer providers about the additional 220 units. The council decided to put off voting on the rezone until both entities had agreed they could provide infrastructure for the additional units.