Does Summit County have a preference between large-scale apartment buildings or quaint single-family homes in Jeremy Ranch? Do residents favor street designs that integrate pedestrians, bicycles and businesses or cars? Is there support for gathering spaces like an outdoor terrace cafe, multipurpose sports field, children’s playground or outdoor amphitheater? What about a wildlife refuge, nature boardwalk, mountain biking trails or pavilion on the Cline Dahle property?
Community members this week shared their opinions for the first time about how the 30-acre parcel should be used during an open house organized by the county’s Planning Department. Participants were shown a variety of images and asked to provide feedback on whether the idea would be appropriate for the Cline Dahle site.
The activity provided the public with clear examples of how the property could be developed, and it was intended to give staff a clear direction on what would and wouldn’t be accepted.
Boards with topics such as natural spaces, gathering areas, street typology and housing types and related photos lined the Sheldon Richins auditorium. Participants could speak with staff about the ideas and make comments about each one. More than 50 people attended the open house, which was the first time the public has been allowed to weigh in on the county’s draft plan.
Many of the concepts were received well.
Some people said they’ve noticed a shortage of community gathering spaces but admitted they hadn’t considered it as part of the design process. They favored projects that blend well with the natural environment and provide a benefit to the neighborhood. There seemed to be more support for new ideas like a green space for events over another playground or park bench.
Opinions started to differ with the range of street and housing types.
Staff presented options depicting boulevards with designated bus and bicycle lanes, mixed-use neighborhoods with people and shopping, streets with landscaping and empty rural roads. Comments noted how the designs integrated elements to promote safety and active transportation. However, there were also concerns about the size and scale of the examples.
There were similar sentiments about the housing choices. There was a big, modern complex that could house hundreds, a smaller building with a handful of apartments, stacked residences, pocket neighborhoods and spread-out homes. Attendees disliked projects that would bring a lot of density or that didn’t fit into the character of the community. The comments were typically more negative at this station, too.
Kendra Babitz, a Summit County worker who lives in Salt Lake City, attended the open house with her partner, Blake Wellard. The couple would like to move to the Park City area. However, they said they cannot afford to live here.
They were open to affordable housing on the site, but Wellard, an ecologist, was concerned about the sensitive lands in the area. He wanted to ensure county staff were proceeding with care, so he spoke with them about plans for the wetlands and surrounding area. The entire Cline Dahle property is about 30 acres, but only 17 acres can be developed because of East Canyon Creek.
Babitz emphasized the importance of finding a balance between the natural environment and the county’s growing needs. She doesn’t want to see Summit County make the same mistakes as other large municipalities, which is why she wanted to get involved in the planning process early.
There was strong support overall for the goals of the draft plan: create a vibrant, affordable and safe neighborhood for families; build an environment that prioritizes connectedness and active transportation; leverage access to natural environments for education and recreational opportunities; encourage the revitalization of existing commercial areas and complement them with neighborhood-level services; and harness civic pride and design a community that can be held up as an example for future developments.
Attendees also agreed with the staff’s potential design strategies. However, they were most neutral in their support of transitioning between high- and low-density areas as well as improving nearby businesses and incorporating them with the surrounding neighborhood.
Suggested uses for a fire station, green space and recreation opportunities were also widely supported. Attendees were largely against public art displays and commercial centers. Other comments called for the county to use the land for senior or affordable housing for people already living in the community.
Staff plans to gather and process the input from the event. Then, the staff will return to the Summit County Council with a finalized vision, goal and design suggestions. A request for proposal could be issued later this year.