Herriman council approves land swaps, MDAs and road reimbursements to enable housing and a proposed Southwest Athletic Complex amid resident objections

Herriman — The Herriman City Council voted April 23 to approve a suite of land-use changes, master development agreements (MDAs) and reimbursement deals intended to enable new housing and to assemble land the city says is needed to pursue a regional Southwest Athletic Complex.

The package included: a general-plan and zoning change and an MDA for the Sorrento/Walker property (18.05 acres at 5616 West 12900 South) that limits the project to 113 dwelling units under an R‑110 base zone; amendments to the Olympia and Creek Ridge MDAs that allow property swaps and reallocate open-space obligations; approval of a Big Bend Cove MDA for 11 private‑HOA homes on 2.54 acres; a reimbursement deal for construction of a 1,900‑foot section of 6400 West (about $5.6 million, bond-funded); an amended reimbursement for 126 South/118 South (increasing the total reimbursable amount to about $4.3 million); and a property‑exchange agreement that transfers developer parcels to the city and city parcels to the developer as part of assembling the athletic‑complex site.

Why the council approved the package

City staff and council members framed the actions as a coordinated, council‑driven strategy to consolidate acreage and leverage outside funding for a larger, programmable park and regional athletic complex. Mayor and council members said the city cannot afford to build multiple full‑amenity parks across every neighborhood and that assembling 50+ contiguous acres increases the city’s chance to secure county, regional and state grant dollars and transportation funding.

“As we were looking for that we probably were not gonna be able to build all these parks like that’s just a battle that all cities are facing right now,” the mayor said while explaining the rationale for consolidating open space and pursuing outside funding. Council supporters also pointed to earlier negotiations that reduced density in projects and said the MDAs and development standards were revised in response to resident feedback.

Resident opposition and safety concerns

Many residents spoke against removing land previously shown as open space or parkland. Ace Austria opposed the Creek Ridge change, saying, “I’m opposed to the residential area providing 27 additional homes behind our house,” and argued that neighbors bought lots expecting a park. Lauren Brewer told the council she would “rather pay taxes more than sacrifice this park,” and other speakers stressed safety risks from sending pedestrians across SR‑126 to distant parks.

Several council members said they understood the community anger but emphasized the need to balance competing priorities and find outside money to accelerate a larger, amenity‑rich facility. Councilmember Jared said the consolidation idea was council‑initiated to qualify the city for outside funding and that “we're opening 60 acres right now” as part of that effort.

Key details approved

- Sorrento/Walker (18.05 acres): General‑plan amendment to residential land use and zoning set as a base R‑110 with an MDA that limits density (staff recommended a 113‑unit cap and specified setbacks, landscaping and design standards). The council approved the general plan, zoning ordinance 2025‑07 and the Sorrento MDA (ordinance 2025‑08) with attorney/staff oversight and a telecom easement set to expire with the MDA.

- Olympia amendments: Council approved amendments to the Olympia MDA to permit certain land swaps and clarified obligations for off‑site mitigation; planning commission had recommended conditional approval.

- Creek Ridge / Creek Ridge Cove: Council approved amendments and a new Creek Ridge Cove MDA to allow 136 detached single‑family homes on the parcel removed from the existing MDA, with conditions addressing landscaping, lot frontage and trail connections; staff emphasized the city would be responsible for completing a Midas Creek trail connection.

- Big Bend Cove (2.54 acres): Approved general‑plan change and MDA for 11 homes to replace a previously designated civic parcel; the MDA will feature private roads and HOA maintenance.

- Infrastructure reimbursements: Council authorized a reimbursement agreement with Olympia Ranch LLC for construction of a 1,900‑foot stretch of 6400 West and utilities (total not‑to‑exceed roughly $5.6 million, financed with an expected bond) and approved an amended reimbursement agreement for 126 South / 118 South (raising the reimbursable amount to about $4.3 million) to reflect higher costs and updated impact‑fee assumptions.

- Property exchange for athletic complex: The council approved a property‑exchange agreement with Olympia Ranch/Land Reserve that splits the athletic‑complex parcel into two exchange phases (the second contingent on soil remediation) and added language expanding allowable municipal uses and a 10‑year sunset on the developer’s right of first refusal if the city surpluses the land.

Council votes at a glance

- Sorrento general‑plan resolution R22‑2025: Approved (motion by Jared; second by Teddy). - Sorrento zoning ordinance 2025‑07 (A143 → R‑110 base): Approved. - Sorrento MDA ordinance 2025‑08 (with telecom easement expiring with MDA): Approved. - Olympia MDA amendment / third amendment ordinance 2025‑09: Approved (with city manager and attorney oversight). - Creek Ridge second amendment ordinance 2025‑10 / associated general‑plan R23‑2025: Approved. - Creek Ridge Cove MDA ordinance (approvals and conditions): Approved. - Big Bend Cove general‑plan R24‑2025 and MDA ordinance 2025‑12: Approved. - Olympia PID amendment R25‑2025 (allowing PID funds for remediation/inclusion of Sorrento): Approved. - Reimbursement agreement for 6400 West (Olympia Ranch LLC): Approved. - Amended reimbursement agreement for 126 South / 118 South: Approved (increasing reimbursable amount to ~$4.3M). - Property‑exchange resolution R26‑2025 authorizing mayor to sign acquisition documents for athletic complex: Approved.

What happens next

Several of the MDAs and agreements were approved with the requirement that final language be reviewed and approved by the city manager and city attorney; staff noted that some developer revisions may trigger return to council if substantive. The property exchange and infrastructure schedules include contingent steps (soil remediation, recording, and bonding decisions); staff said the 6400 West roadway work is expected to be completed this fall if paving windows align with construction progress.

Why it matters

Council members argued the consolidated approach increases the city’s ability to attract outside funding and build a larger regional athletic facility and connected trail network rather than many smaller, lower‑amenity pocket parks. Residents countered that the changes break prior expectations for nearby green space and create safety and quality‑of‑life tradeoffs for adjacent neighborhoods.

The council’s decisions set the legal framework for several new subdivisions, a multi‑phase property transfer to secure land for a potential athletic complex and multiple infrastructure projects that will be financed in part through city bonds and developer reimbursement agreements. The approvals are likely to be followed by more detailed engineering, recorded MDAs and further developer/city negotiations; any substantive changes requested by developers must be brought back to the council for final approval.