Economic development staff seek Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone to spur Cairns mixed‑use projects

Economic Development Director Casey Dunlavy and Senior staff Rob Sant briefed the Sandy City Council on April 15 on development activity in the Cairns area and on a proposed Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone (HTRZ) intended to accelerate several stalled or ready‑to‑build projects.

Dunlavy said work over the last several years has prepared developers to return to the market and that the HTRZ — a state tool designed to encourage density and affordable housing near transit stations — could help close financing gaps. "If we get approval on this HTRZ, I believe we'll see the potential of three major projects in our Cairns area, potentially this year," Dunlavy said.

Rob Sant reviewed the HTRZ rules and the city’s proposal. He said the state requires mixed‑use, multifamily development with an average density target (the statute expects high residential density near transit). Sant explained the process: the city will submit a proposal to the governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO), an independent gap analysis is done (90 days), and a state committee reviews applications in late summer. If the committee approves an HTRZ, Sant said the city would enter an interlocal agreement with its RDA to administer tax increment; approved projects can receive 80% of incremental tax revenues per phase for a 25‑year period (Sant noted longer phase windows may extend overall program life up to statute limits).

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