Dakota Pacific Real Estate is collaborating with Summit County to build its mixed-use project in Kimball Junction, but the development firm is also still exploring the possibility of incorporating a new town on the nearly 50-acre site.
This week, the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s Office plans to present a feasibility study indicating the new town, dubbed Park City Tech, could sustain itself within the proposed boundaries. The findings released in September cleared a major hurdle for Dakota Pacific to incorporate the new town under the state’s new pilot program for preliminary municipalities.
The public hearing is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Ecker Hill Middle School. Consultants with Zions Public Finance Inc., which conducted the feasibility study, will present the findings. Residents can then share their opinions on the proposed incorporation and established boundaries, as well as ask questions about the results.
Feedback received during the public hearing is unlikely to alter the proposal. The public hearing is only for educational purposes. Neither the Utah Lt. Governor’s Office nor the consultants has the authority to deny the incorporation petition and must remain neutral. Summit County also doesn’t have the authority to approve or deny the creation of a new town.
Community members have been largely opposed to the Dakota Pacific development since it was proposed more than five years ago, a sentiment that only grew when Park City Tech was introduced.
There wouldn’t be a vote on the incorporation either, unlike the requirements for the proposed West Hills incorporation, because Dakota Pacific filed to create a preliminary municipality rather than a standard one.
Dakota Pacific has one year from the completion of the public hearing to proceed with the incorporation process by filing a petition for incorporation of the proposed preliminary municipality.
The development firm would designate a board chair and three board members who would serve as a town council once incorporated. Summit County has the power to choose the fourth board member. The group “has the same authority as another municipality,” minus imposing taxes or exercising eminent domain.
Board members do not need to live within the proposed boundaries and would be replaced during an election if Park City Tech fully incorporates as a standard municipality.
Dakota Pacific would be required to file to incorporate as a town once the population exceeds 100 people. The lieutenant governor would dissolve the preliminary municipality if Dakota Pacific does not file a petition for incorporation to transition within six years.
Dakota Pacific CEO Marc Stanworth previously said the development firm will maintain incorporation as a viable alternative to its project “until we have full confidence that our current path will not be further challenged and delayed.”
Park City Tech closely mirrors the 725-unit, mixed-use development approved by the Summit County Council in December, which quickly became subject to a citizen-led referendum effort. But Park City Tech will not have the elements of the public-private partnership if incorporated.
However, Stanworth said Dakota Pacific has turned its full attention to the project approved under an administrative development agreement through Senate Bill 26 in July.
The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission is currently considering the architecture guidelines for that 885-unit development, which includes 160 units of county-owned affordable housing. That project is similar to what was approved in December but was not subject to a referendum. A follow-up meeting is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 25.
If the Planning Commission finalizes its recommendation by December, Summit County Manager Shayne Scott could potentially approve the design guidelines before the year ends. Dakota Pacific plans to build the project in several phases over about five years.
Scott previously said he has asked staff to dedicate as little time as possible to the Park City Tech project, only what is required by state law.