Several of Park City’s elected officials provided brief comments early in the week regarding a development concept on municipal acreage in Bonanza Park that has drawn broad criticism.
The Park City municipal government is pursuing the development as part of a partnership with Chicago-area firm Brinshore Development. The Park City Planning Commission is reviewing the concept rather than Mayor Ryan Dickey and the Park City Council, but the elected officials themselves helped guide the concept to the application stage since municipal land — approximately 5 acres stretching inward from the southwest corner of the intersection of Kearns Boulevard and Bonanza Drive — is involved.
The development proposal calls for:
- 88 units of income-restricted rentals.
- 18 rentals without income restrictions.
- More than 30,000 square feet for a variety of tenants, such as retailers, restaurants, cafes and art spaces for not-for-profit organizations.
- A childcare location.
- 2 acres of open space.
There is organized opposition, with many of the critics of the proposal wanting leaders to instead turn the land into park space.
Comments by the elected officials in interviews included:
- City Councilor Molly Miller indicating she “wholeheartedly” supports the concept for the acreage as designed. She said the opinions of the organized opposition, which coalesced into a group known as PLACE PC, matter to her. Miller, however, said there is misinformation in the community regarding the funding the municipal government intends to tap for a development. She explained funds raised via tourism taxes would be used.
- City Councilor Ed Parigian saying he supports the project continuing through the Planning Commission review. He said the panel can offer “valuable feedback that will make this a more acceptable project for the locals.” Parigian said the concept attempts to remain faithful to the original vision of an arts and culture district, which also included housing and food options.
- City Councilor Bill Ciraco declining to comment about the details of the process. He acknowledged the concept is “challenging” from a planning perspective and said he is aware of the public comment that has been given. Ciraco said an agreement between the municipal government and Brinshore calls for good faith by the two sides as he explained his reluctance to discuss details.
City Councilors Diego Zegarra and Tana Toly did not respond by the print edition deadline.
Park City acquired the land from a private sector partnership nearly a decade ago. After that, ownership struggled to win support for a development concept it crafted for the ground. The municipal government envisioned creating an arts and culture district with the Kimball Art Center and the Utah offices of the Sundance Institute as the anchors. That idea collapsed in the intervening years with the Kimball Art Center instead opting for a location in the Snyderville Basin and Sundance moving the film festival out of Utah.