Herriman planners back removing parcel from Creek Ridge MDA; residents fear loss of promised park

Herriman — The Planning Commission voted 4–2 on April 16 to recommend that the city council approve changes to the Creek Ridge Master Development Agreement (MDA) and a related general plan amendment that remove a parcel previously shown as parkland and allow residential development there while consolidating open space across the street for a larger public‑space opportunity.

Staff told commissioners the swap is intended to create a larger, consolidated park parcel that would be more competitive for outside funding. City staff explained that reducing the minimum commercial acreage in the Creek Ridge MDA from 7 to 3.78 acres — together with the agreement’s density of 8 units per acre — translates to roughly 27 additional dwelling units in Area A (correcting an earlier slide that listed 36). The commission’s recommendation to the council included staff’s conditions and the corrected 27‑unit figure.

The decision followed a lengthy public hearing in which several residents said they bought lots with the expectation of backing onto city parkland. Bradley Stoll told the commission that “it has always been an athletic sports complex that will be private,” and other residents said they were told the space would be a public park and would be open for family use. Ace Austria warned of nighttime lights, noise and parking associated with a gated sports complex and urged commissioners to preserve neighborhood green space.

City staff and economic development representatives defended the swap as a pragmatic response to changing conditions, including a loss of previously anticipated acreage after adjacent jurisdictional changes and the need to reach a roughly 50‑acre threshold to qualify for some outside park funding. Staff said the city would take ownership of the dedicated parcel before any swap completes, and that legal exchange agreements can require multiple conditions and signatures so that parts of the transaction cannot take effect independently.

Commissioners debated whether the city should insist that a portion of the consolidated acreage remain public and accessible, and whether the swap could include guarantees for neighborhood access if the proposed athletic complex were to be privately managed. Several commissioners expressed sympathy with residents who expected local open space while also noting the city must weigh long‑term funding and deliverability.

Ultimately, the commission approved a motion to recommend approval of the Creek Ridge MDA amendment (Item 5.1) with staff’s condition and the corrected unit count; the roll call was Brody Yes, Jackson Yes, Heather No, Preston Yes, Darrel Yes and Andrea No (4–2 in favor). The commission also recommended the general plan amendment (Item 5.2) with an added suggestion that part of the new park remain public, and approved the related Creek Ridge Cove MDA (Item 5.3) with an additional recommendation for added open space in the southeast quadrant to connect trailheads.

Developer Ryan Button described lot dimensions and said the lots adjacent to existing homes were made wider to be sensitive to neighbors. He told the commission the white parcel immediately west of 6400 West will remain public open space in the swap and that geotechnical and soil sampling work under way is standard for either park or residential use.

Next steps: the planning commission’s recommendations will go to the Herriman City Council at its meeting next week. The council will have the final legislative vote on the MDA and general plan amendments.