STAFF MEMO
To:Summit County Council
From:Will Pratt, Planning & Project Manager
Subject:SBSRD-UAF Land Swap Proposal
Date:October 10, 2013
Meeting Date:November 6, 2013
Summary Request:
Review and approve recommendation from the Board of Directors of the Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District (the District)for the possible land exchange of an open space parcel jointly owned by the District and Summit County (the County), for aparcel of land owned by the Utah Athletic Foundation (UAF). Both parcels are located in the vicinity of theUtah Olympic Legacy Park.
Background:
The District and the County acquired the Kimball Junction Open Space parcels as part of the Boyer Park City Heights development approval process and a larger land swap agreement with Park City Municipal and other parties which occurred earlier this year. The District and the County are tenants in common on the parcels. The District currently owns a 63% undivided interest in the land, including KJS Lot 3, and the County owns and undivided 37% interest.
Utah Olympic Legacy Park is located near Kimball Junction and was originally constructed as a venue for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. UAF currently manages and maintains the Olympic facilities as a non-profit entity, and has added facilities and public entertainment options to help insure the long term viability of the park.
One of the improvements UAF has been planning at the park is the addition of athlete housing. UAF recently proposed building said housing on land it was deeded by the County, but the Snyderville BasinPlanning Commission was not comfortable with the location because of the impact on the visual corridor that the County would like to keep free from development. Following discussions, the County and UAF proposed an exchange of properties to allow for the relocation of athlete housing outside of the visual corridor.
As per the proposed agreement, UAF would deed a portion of land it owns (11.31 acres of KJS Lot 5) to the District and the County, in the same ownership percentages which currently exist on KJS Lot 3. In exchange, the District and the County would deed 5.22 acres of land located on KJS Lot 3 to UAF (see attached map and plat amendment for details). A draft of the proposed exchange agreement is also attached for your review.
The land exchange would provide UAF with land located in an area adjacent to already developed facilities and suitable for residential development, while providing the District and the County with a comparatively larger parcel of open space with trail connection possibilities. The 11.31 acres is not currently developed and would be difficult terrain to build structures on. However, the District is interested in constructing a natural surface non-motorized trail though this parcel as another connection point between the Millennium Trail near Bear Hollow and existing trails around Utah Olympic Legacy Park. Such a connection would be easier to facilitate if the District owned this portion of Lot 5 outright.
The District Administrative Control Board of Directors reviewed this request at its regularly scheduled meeting held at District offices on September 11, 2013, and subsequently voted to forward a positive recommendation to the Summit County Council regarding the proposed land exchange.
Analysis:
District Staff has reviewed the proposal to see if it consistent with District and County policies and goals and concludes that it is. The District would gain an additional parcel of open space that will enable a trail connection it currently does not have access to as well as support the UAF in its endeavor to create athlete housing. District staff feels it would be beneficial for the District and the County to take fee title to this property and help facilitate the trail connection described above.
Summary:
In summary, the District Board feels the proposed land exchange would be beneficial to the District and County, and the Summit County Council should approve the transaction.
Motion:
For the Summit County Council toapprove the land exchange between UAF and the District/County; UAF would deed 11.31 acres (located on KJS Lot 5) to the District/County, and the District/County would deed 5.22 acres (located on KJS Lot 3) to UAF. The District would own a 63% undivided interest in the 11.31 acres, with the County owning the remaining interest. Existing trail easements held by the District on Lot 3 would remain intact. This approval would also authorize the District Director to execute any agreements necessary to complete the transaction.