Commission recommends Gardner Group map changes for Jordan Bluffs; corrects phase label for city council

MIDVALE, Utah — On Jan. 8 the Midvale City Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a text amendment requested by the Gardner Group to revise figures in Section 17‑7‑10.12.1 and 17‑7‑10.12.5 of the Midvale City Municipal Code for the Jordan Bluffs subareas 1–3 development zone.

Johnny, a Midvale City presenter, said the amendment updates the adopted figures to reflect how Gardner Group intends to phase and develop the property, splitting certain areas into subpods (A, B1, B2) to align development phasing and road connections. David Dennison, representing Gardner Group, described design changes since the prior submission: a shift from an earlier five‑story plan to a combination of four‑story tuck‑under apartment buildings and townhomes with a clubhouse and pool in phase 1. Dennison said the revised plan reduces overall parking demand by incorporating tuck‑under parking and garages in the townhomes and that the developer expects to begin site work as soon as mid to late summer.

Dennison also flagged a map labeling error: the figure for pod B2 read "phase 2" but should read "phase 3." Staff recommended that the corrected exhibit be the version forwarded to City Council. Commissioners discussed open space, roads and connectivity; staff and the developer said the park within the development agreement is sized and laid out as 15 acres and that open space remains part of the plan though some slopes and soil constraints limit building in certain bluff areas. Dennison said the townhome units will be rental product only, not for sale, because the site's regulatory and ownership structure requires the whole site to remain under a single owner.

The commission opened the public hearing and received no comments. A motion to recommend approval of the text amendment as provided in the attachments — with the explicit correction that pod B2 be relabeled to phase 3 in the materials sent to City Council — passed on a roll‑call vote recorded as yes from Chair Erickson; Commissioner Kasparian; Commissioner Snow; Commissioner Lidke; and Commissioner Tippett.

Staff and the developer will continue to coordinate the large scale master plan and the development agreement before City Council consideration. The commission asked that the corrected figures accompany the submittal to City Council so the council reviews the same, corrected exhibit.

Background: the project occupies the Jordan Bluffs redevelopment area near Bingham Junction. The amendment does not itself approve construction; it adjusts the municipal code figures that guide how future master plans and development agreements for the site will be implemented.