Taylorsville Council Adopts Station‑area Plans for Mid Valley Express BRT

The Taylorsville City Council on May 7 approved Ordinance 25‑O‑5, adopting station‑area plans for three Mid Valley Express Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations along 4700 South.

The ordinance formally adopts small‑area master plans the state requires for fixed‑guideway stations and lays out a five‑year implementation plan to guide future private redevelopment, public improvements and land‑use changes near the Atherton, Atherton West and Riverboat (also referenced as Sunstone/Riverboat) stations. Mark McGrath, who presented the plan, said, “The state law says that we have to include a 5 year implementation plan on how we're going to actually implement all of this stuff.”

Why it matters: The plan concentrates new housing and mixed use near stations, seeks to preserve single‑family neighborhoods and Sorensen Research Park, and creates a long linear park connection to the Jordan River Parkway. Planners estimated the study area could increase from roughly 1,600 existing dwelling units to about 5,600 under the plan — an increase of about 4,000 units — and put average density in the study area at roughly 42 units per acre. Near stations, proposed intensities range from about 60 to 100 units per acre.

Key elements and constraints in the plan include: higher residential densities closest to stations with lower densities away from existing single‑family areas; mixed‑use, street‑facing retail with residential above at station frontages; substantial open space, including a proposed long linear park linking what is now 4 Lakes Golf Course to the Jordan River Parkway; civic use areas (schools, churches, substations) integrated into the district; and street redesigns to improve walkability with planting strips, traffic calming and 8‑ to 12‑foot sidewalks. McGrath emphasized that the plan is intended to coordinate future private redevelopment with the city’s goals and to be certified by the Wasatch Front Regional Council before formal insertion into Taylorsville’s general plan.

The city’s economic consultants told council members there is a weak market, at least initially, for for‑sale condominiums and neighborhood retail in mixed‑use buildings; consultants advised those uses may emerge later as amenities and population increase. McGrath said the plan aims to sequence streetscapes, parks and amenities early to support longer‑term homeownership and neighborhood retail.

Public concern and limits of local authority: Residents and council members raised the community’s emotional attachment to the privately owned 4 Lakes Golf Course. McGrath noted the council has no authority to stop a private property owner from redeveloping the golf course; the plan instead integrates the existing lakes into the open‑space strategy to preserve recreational value if the property changes hands.

Council action: Council member Anna moved to approve Ordinance 25‑O‑5; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call (Burgess: yes; Harker: yes; Cochran: yes; Knudson: yes; Barbieri: yes). The ordinance will be submitted to the Wasatch Front Regional Council for required state certification and then inserted as an addendum to the land‑use chapter of the general plan.

Plans next steps: With certification by regional partners and UTA participation on the project steering committee, city staff said they will return with implementation details, timing and design standards as individual projects or subarea plans are proposed.