Planning Commission recommends approval of View 78 large-scale master plan in Jordan Bluffs

The Midvale Planning Commission on Feb. 26 recommended approval of a large-scale master plan for the View 78 apartments at 795 West Ivy Drive in the Jordan Bluffs subareas 1 through 3 zone.

The commission's recommendation, made during its regular meeting, is advisory and now moves to the Midvale City Council for final action. The commission's approval was contingent on two conditions included in the staff report: (1) city council approval of an amended and restated master development agreement for the Jordan Bluffs project area and a development agreement specific to the View 78 large-scale master plan, and (2) city council approval of changes to city code figures identified in the staff report as MMC 17-7-10.12 0.1 and MMC 17-7-10.12 0.5 (the items described in the staff presentation as replacing pod and street exhibits).

Planning staff presented the 28-acre site south of West Ivy Drive at the corner of Ivy Drive and Bingham Junction and described Phase 1 as a multifamily portion with 232 units in the multifamily buildings, plus 28 townhomes on the eastern portion along the project's internal road. Staff said Phase 2 (east of the tertiary road) would contain 96 townhomes and that Phase 3, in the southern portion of the site, remains undecided and could be higher density or more townhomes in the future. The staff presentation noted the conceptual plan shows substantial open space and amenities that exceed code requirements and indicated the design "uses 'ball valves' in order to protect the parking cars," language used by staff during the presentation.

Staff also described utility and grading plans, and noted a sewer vacuum station operated by Midvale Public Works will serve the development. The staff report states the developer and engineer submitted materials the ordinance requires; the city engineer reviewed the utility plan and said it will work with further design refinement. The applicant, Eric Winters of Wasatch (present at the meeting), reiterated that the project has been before the commission several times and highlighted open space and amenities.

The public hearing was opened and no members of the public spoke. After discussion, a motion to recommend approval passed on a roll-call vote with the following votes recorded: Chair Erickson, yes; Vice Chair Anderson, yes; Commissioner Kasperian, yes; Commissioner Lidke, yes; Commissioner Tibbets (recorded as Tibbets/Tippett in roll call), yes. Commissioner Snow was excused.

Action details in the staff motion and commission record identify the required next steps: the recommendation will be forwarded to city council, which must approve the amended master development agreement for Jordan Bluffs, a development agreement for the View 78 large-scale master plan, and the MMC code figure replacements before the project proceeds under the conditions specified.

The commission's recommendation does not itself authorize construction. City council approval of the development agreements and the listed MMC figure revisions is required before the project advances to the site-plan and permit stages. The staff presentation noted that additional, more detailed design submissions will be required for later site-plan review and building permits.