The Park City Council met last week again to discuss the 5-Acre Site at the southwest corner of Kearns and Bonanza (i.e., the old Maverick station) that is part of the much larger Bonanza Park Small Area Plan.
This has been a long, expensive, challenging and well-meaning process, but that doesn’t mean we should accept the current plan which involves multiple 3- and 4-story apartment buildings and little other community benefit.
Over the years and as the planning for this parcel has progressed, the facts on the ground have shifted. We are no longer trying to incorporate Sundance and Kimball into a greater arts and culture district. At the same time, we have made good progress on adding affordable housing in our area, and traffic has become a greater concern.
I believe this prime and precious piece of real estate that is owned by the city should become a benefit for all Parkites. What better way to maximize the benefits of this parcel than to create a park that can be enjoyed by all?
The current local neighbors of Park Meadows and Prospector would enjoy it, in fact it’s accessible to all of Park City. The residents of the new EngineHouse and upcoming HOPA development will enjoy it, as will other future housing in Bonanza Park. It will provide a wonderful, mountain-view and open-space oriented entry statement for our town.
I’ve heard someone say that our town has become a wonderful place to live not because of what we have built, but because of what we have not built. Treasure Hill, Round Valley, McPolin Barn, City Park, etc., are beloved assets of our community of far greater value than any new development can provide. Our community has consistently and overwhelmingly supported the purchase of open space.
This is not a NIMBY argument. Our neighborhood includes deeply affordable Hillside Village and Aspen Villas, which are slated to become the much larger HOPA development. The EngineHouse will open soon, offering many new affordable units. Other affordable housing, such as Studio Crossing, are coming online. Still others are in the planning stages.
The creation of affordable housing is valued by our community, and we have and continue to put our money where our mouth is. That does not mean that we have to accomplish it at this location.
At a precious city-owned property on a busy and prime intersection, what is the better aspiration for our community? A wall of expensive, multi-story apartment buildings along with their associated traffic? Or mountain views from a large park alternating as a peaceful and vibrant community gathering place?
Mike Florance
Park City