Regional Growth Committee recommends certification of four South Jordan station‑area plans to WFRC council

The Regional Growth Committee on Jan. 16, 2025, voted to forward a recommendation to the Wasatch Front Regional Council to certify four South Jordan station‑area plans required under state law.

The certification recommendation covers four station areas in South Jordan, including a newly planned rail stop adjacent to the Larry H. Miller ballpark and associated development in the Daybreak/urban core area. WFRC staff said the plans were prepared to meet statutory station‑area requirements and local stakeholders were engaged during plan preparation.

"This is a unique area because this station area plan is not aspirational. It's not something we're looking down the road and wanting to create. This is something that's literally already coming up out of the ground," Dawn Ramsey, Mayor of South Jordan, said, describing significant on‑site development and public‑private commitments.

WFRC staff explained that state law (House Bill 462) requires station‑area plans for cities with a transit station or within specific buffers, and that the plans must include a vision, a map showing the required buffers, an implementation plan for the next five years, demonstration of how statutory objectives are met (housing, environment, access and transportation choices), and public and stakeholder engagement. Megan (WFRC staff) told the committee that staff's review found those elements present and that they recommend certification.

Steven Schafermeyer, South Jordan planning director, explained the area encompasses roughly 1,000 acres with entitlements, existing housing types and large land holdings, notably by the Larry H. Miller Company and the University of Utah. He said a recent development phase includes about 195 housing units and that the broader station‑area plan anticipates roughly 11,000 housing units and about 27,000 residents when fully built out.

The city and development partners have tools in place, including a Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone (HTRZ) and a special assessment district to support infrastructure. Schafermeyer said the HTRZ includes a commitment to at least 500 affordable housing units in the immediate sub‑area; when asked about affordability levels he said some units are planned to be deed‑restricted at about 60% of area median income.

The committee moved and seconded a recommendation that the Wasatch Front Regional Council certify the four South Jordan station‑area plans. The motion passed on a voice vote; the group called "aye" and the chair noted the recommendation would be forwarded to the WFRC council for final action.

Committee members and staff discussed public engagement and mitigation of neighborhood concerns tied to rapid growth and events at the ballpark. South Jordan representatives said outreach has been extensive over many years because the Daybreak area has been planned and developed for two decades and development entitlements predate some later ownership changes. City staff and the developer said they meet regularly with public safety and operations staff to manage event and construction impacts.

WFRC staff said the certification recommendation will be presented to the full Wasatch Front Regional Council in the next council meeting for final action.