The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission is recommending that the Summit County Council repeal the contested CORE program for a more clear-cut development program.
The CORE program, which allows developers increased density for increased workforce housing, has recently come under fire by a neighborhood group who filed a lawsuit against the county, stating the CORE development allowed ‘too much density in an inappropriate location.’
Summit County Planner Kimber Gabryszak said the CORE and Specially Planned Area development codes may both be replaced with a Master Plan Development (MPD) code, similar to Park City’s.
“We don’t have a replacement program ready yet and there may be some time between getting rid of CORE and finding a new program,” Gabryszak said. “Our new program will be more black and white and more predictable. We want developers to have a set starting and maximum density and clear steps on how to get there.”
The new program will have an affordable housing component, but Gabryszak said it will be combined with other community benefits a developer must offer before receiving approval for increased density.
According to Gabryszak, the Discovery CORE project, which is the subject of two lawsuits filed against the county for irresponsible placement and an unclear development process, may not be eligible for increased density under the new MPD program.
“We heard a lot of public input from residents who were concerned about hillside stewardship and wanted that location to be exempt from any kind of increased density program,” said Gabryszak. “We are taking that into consideration and may exclude hillside stewardship and mountain remote areas.”
The Discovery development is currently planned to be built south of Interstate 80 behind the Weilenmann School of Discovery on a parcel that was previously zoned “Hillside Stewardship,” allowing for one unit per 30 acres. Through the CORE program, developers received approval to build 105 units on 70 acres.
The County Council is tentatively scheduled to decide on Dec. 14 which new development program to adopt and the stipulations for increased density, public input will be taken. To find out more visit www.summitcounty.org/communitydevelopment