The Summit County Council this week presented Dakota Pacific Real Estate with a revised proposal in response to the development firm’s modified request to build a 695-unit mixed-use development at the Park City Tech Center.
The county’s plan seems to be an attempt to find a middle-ground between officials’ restrictions and what the developer said is possible. The parties met on Thursday for the first time in about six weeks to discuss the feasibility and economics of the project as well as what Summit County wants to see if it allows the project to be built.
County Councilor Chris Robinson told the development firm Summit County would allow 600 residential units — 100 more than the limit set in February — and a more flexible buildout timeline if Dakota Pacific agrees to keep half of the residences affordable as well as partner to provide other community benefits such as child care, senior services and a brand-new transit center.
The county’s revised proposal calls for 65 units reserved for people making 44% of the area median income, 160 units for people earning 60% AMI and 75 units at the 100% AMI level, which is $148,600 a year for a family of four.
The plan would also allow half of all residences to be market rate with 150 apartments, 80 condos and 70 townhomes.
However, the County Council laid out several conditions in exchange for increasing the number of units it would consider, including a new transit center, a pedestrian promenade and the possibility of a future gondola. Officials want to create a civic plaza where the Sheldon Richins building sits.
Summit County proposes swapping the land with Dakota Pacific for a similarly sized parcel west of the Skullcandy building.
The Richins parcel could receive an upgraded transit center with structured parking for 1,500 to 2,000 cars with ground-floor retail and a pedestrian walkway connecting to the east side of S.R. 224. A gondola connection would also be allowed as part of the public-private partnership.
The original Dakota Pacific proposal outlined a gondola connecting the land to Utah Olympic Park. Summit County also wants the developer’s help persuading the Utah Department of Transportation to amend its preferred traffic fix for the Kimball Junction Interstate 80 interchange.
The new county parcel would be used to address future needs, with possibilities of a child care center or continuing-care retirement community.
Dakota Pacific CEO Marc Stanworth’s initial reaction was “ouch.”
He previously told the County Council the development would need at least 500 market-rate units to cover infrastructure and land costs. Dakota Pacific’s first application included 1,100 units and commercial space before it was later reduced to 727 units. The latest version of the development firm’s plan calls for just under 700 units.
Stanworth also expressed concern about the complexity of the county’s revisions, which included a property swap, for example, and how long it would take to work through the details.
“I’m very, very concerned that we’re going back around that same circle,” he said during the special meeting.
Vice Chair Tonja Hanson told Stanworth she doesn’t think there’s “a lot of wiggle room” in the new plan. She indicated 600 units are at the high end of what she’s comfortable with allowing.
County Councilor Roger Armstrong agreed. He said the numbers have been stretched as far as they can. Officials amended the affordability requirements and increased commercial space allowance to even out the number of market-rate units.
Summit County tentatively scheduled a public hearing for the Dakota Pacific project on April 22. However, the County Council stated they think that may not be enough time for the development firm to review the proposal. Stanworth was not optimistic that the financials could work.
Council members were open to changing the public hearing date but affirmed the need to reach a final decision.