SANDY — It's the biggest chunk of developable land remaining in this now-mature Salt Lake Valley suburb, and its days as a gravel pit are history.
But what will become of the 108-acre parcel, located between the ski connect road and 1300 East, has blossomed into a controversy with the recent acquisition of the land by the Boyer Co.
Boyer, the developer of The Gateway in Salt Lake City, has proposed a mixed-use development to include single-family homes, apartments and two "big box" retail stores — likely a Lowe's Home Improvement and a Wal-Mart Superstore.
And that has some neighboring residents feeling lower than Wal-Mart's prices. Many of them had hoped the city would turn the unsightly gravel pit into a beautiful regional park.
"It's been documented and all the residents that have been here that long have heard it over and over again," said Rachael Stone, who lives west of the gravel pit and was hoping her young daughter and soon-to-arrive baby would be able to enjoy that oft-discussed park.
"Obviously, I would love a park, and that's an important thing to us. But even if we didn't get a park or didn't get a big park, they are just putting in the absolutely worst possible combination of things."
Boyer may not be able to do what it plans, however. The property is in a special development zone that does not permit "big box" retail stores like Lowe's and Wal-Mart — a concession to nearby businesses when the ski connect road was built in 1988.
Boyer's request for change to allow big box stores will be heard May 20 by the Sandy Planning Commission, which will then make a recommendation to the City Council.
City Councilman John Winder acknowledged he'd heard talk of a park, too, but said the owners of the property have a right to develop it as they see fit. As to whether the city would allow the type of retail development Boyer has proposed, Winder said he believes the council will keep an open mind and consider all ramifications before making a decision.
"It'd be a great place to have a park, but it's also a very expensive piece of property, so it just comes down to whether there is money there to purchase that or not," Winder said, adding that he is unaware of any serious effort to purchase the land for a park.
Winder said the potential tax revenues from such a development are also significant.
"Your economic engine is important," he said.
Cynthia Long agrees. But the manager and leasing agent for the Sandy Mall at 9400 South and 700 East believes the project could cause that engine to blow a gasket. She fears Wal-Mart and Lowe's would draw customers away from Sandy Mall, increasing its 10 percent vacancy rate and adding to the number of vacant buildings in the area, including Fred Meyer and Pizza Hut.
"I wish I could guess, and to be perfectly honest, I don't like to think about it," Long said of the potential impact. "We think, and my merchants think, (it will affect them) very drastically.
"When the ski connect road was put in, our main concern was that this is exactly what was going to happen, so we worked with the city to (create a zone that) that absolutely prohibits uses like what Boyer is proposing."
Long said that in the early 1990s, Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan even asked her to be on a committee to help plan a regional park for the gravel pit site. That committee was never formed, she said. And now she feels betrayed by the city.
"I really think that the council is looking at the sales tax dollars, that this is all about money at this point," Long said. "I think that's a dangerous way to look at our community, and if you talk to residents, I don't think that is really why they moved to Sandy."
Wade Williams, retail development director for the Boyer Co., said Lowe's and Wal-Mart are only "prospective tenants" who have had discussions with his company.
He said the project would include other commercial development not permitted by the current zoning, as well as apartments, homes and a buffer zone of about 10 landscaped acres. Walking trails and open space will be included in the residential area.
Williams said he is optimistic the city will approve the proposed change to the special zone.
"I would hope they would. I think this is in the best interests of the city to really help revitalize that whole Sandy area, and I think it will be a real catalyst to kick off additional development there," he said. "There's really nothing in that area that meets the daily needs of the citizens."
Stone, who has helped organize her neighbors to fight the proposal, concedes she may not get the large regional park she would like as a replacement for the gravel pit. But she does plan to keep on fighting.
"There are so many awesome things you could do with that plot of land," she said.
E-mail: zman@desnews.com