When Snyderville Basin Planning Commissioner Bea Peck learned which grocer planned to relocate to Landmark Drive near the Tanger Outlet Mall, she had some serious reservations about the project.
“In my mind, when the revelation for the tenant occurred, which turned out to be Whole Foods, had it been anyone else with that kind of draw power I would have had the same concerns,” Peck said.
Centercal Properties, a California retail development company, is asking to amend the Canyon Corners development agreement to accommodate a Whole Foods Market, a two-story building with 18,000 square feet of retail space and 20 affordable housing units. The development agreement applies to a 8.5 acre parcel across from the Ruby Tuesday’s restaurant.
The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission recently voted 5-1 to forward the amended document on to the Summit County Council. Peck cast the dissenting vote and Commissioner Colin DeFord wasn’t present. The issue will go before the County Council during a public hearing Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 6 p.m. at the Sheldon Richins Building.
“I’ve been pretty consistent on the record and have praised the developers for much of their initiative. They have come in multiple times and I think it’s a great project, I just think it’s in the wrong place,” Peck said.
The developers first met with the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission in December asking to amend the Canyon Corners development agreement. They have met with the commission five times since then.
“We sent them back asking them to take a look at this and consider this and they were very responsive to us. I think what they finally presented us is a win-win for the citizens of Summit County as well as their business,” said Mike Franklin, Planning Commission chair. “The biggest concerns we had were probably the traffic and the safety of the road. But the applicant’s traffic engineer and the county’s Public Works director have said that the development is as safe as it would be on any other street.
“So we are going to see how it goes and maybe we’ll revisit some of the traffic issues in a year,” he said. “There may be some things that the county will make amendments to, but I think there are a lot of community benefits here, including a bike-sharing program, circulator bus and affordable housing.”
In May, Whole Foods Market announced plans to open a “flagship mountain store” at Kimball Junction in early 2017. The store will reportedly be the first Whole Foods Market in Utah to feature a taproom, including pub dining inside the store. A press release said the new store will replace the existing one at Redstone.
“We’re excited to open a new store for the Park City community,” a statement from Whole Foods Market said. “While the meeting is taking place between the county and the developer, as a potential future tenant, we certainly look forward to hearing the outcomes and any guidance the county has for our particular business.”
Alec Paddock, a development manager with Centercal properties, said their engineers have agreed to add three traffic mitigating measures to reduce delays.
In addition to an existing crosswalk on Landmark Drive, the developer has agreed to add a second crosswalk, and provide flashing light signals throughout the area to warn drivers of pedestrians crossing.
“We think that will slow down traffic and we are also adding speed feedback signs,” Paddock said.
The project is already at a schematic design level, Paddock said, adding that he’d like to start construction sometime this year, if the County Council approves the amendments.
“We’re really excited and it’s been an enjoyable experience working with staff and the commission to get all of the conditions of approval correct for everyone,” he said.
Peck said she might have been comfortable with additional mitigation, such as right-hand only turns.
“My level of discomfort was so high I don’t know that right hand turns would have got rid of it. There is no right or wrong answer here and everyone cast their vote in what they felt was in the best interest of the community,” Peck said. “I hope I’m wrong, I hope it’s a success and I hope the problems I fear don’t materialize. But for me it was just a safety feature, nothing else was wrong and they would be welcome in the neighborhood in a different location. I’m just really concerned about Landmark Drive and I can’t get over it.”
To view the staff report on the amendments go to http://www.summitcounty.org/agendacenter under County Council.