Two rezone applications came before the Midvale City Council at the end of May and neighboring residents fiercely opposed both requests. 

One proposal would add a Regional Commercial Residential Overlay Zone to the property located at 7001 S. 900 East. It is currently zoned for Regional Commercial but developers want to add housing units to the property, with retail availability on the first floor. 

Residents from the Essex Court Condominiums, located east of the rezone request, expressed concern that a housing concept would increase traffic along 900 East, a road they already consider to be dangerous. Plus, the proposal accesses the egress to the Essex community, leaving hundreds of residents with only one way in or out of the area.

“This change may seem like progress on paper, but in reality, it would come at a high cost, especially in terms of safety and quality of life for the people who live in this area,” said Essex Court resident Megan Theorine. “Increased traffic from a high-density development will only add to the danger. It’s about preventing accidents, injuries and even tragedy. We should not move forward with a development plan that clearly compromises safety.”

The proposed six-story development would include apartments, parking, open space and retail shops. In the past, the property has hosted commercial office space, but the Union Center Plaza burned down in 2021 and nothing has been rebuilt on the property.

Midvale City Councilmember Bonnie Billings spent time driving and walking through the property and talking to residents about their concerns. She suggested the rezone vote be tabled until a development agreement could be created that included a traffic study. 

“With the combined units being proposed in this, 140 with the 72 units existing at Essex Court, you’re looking at about 215 units that one single access point is going to have to serve for this space,” Billings said. “It’s going into a very busy roadway that already sees significant congestion.”

Real estate developer and rezone applicant, Adam Paul, agreed to negotiate a development agreement and the rezone request was tabled until the agreement
is finalized.

The second issue was a rezone request for two properties: 6854 S. 700 East and 6852 S. 700 East. The property is owned by Valley Behavioral Health, which already has two buildings in the area. Valley Phoenix is a residential treatment facility for women with children. Oquirrh Ridge East Apartments is a 12-unit affordable project.

Valley Behavioral Health Vice President of Housing Russell Opatz asked the city to change the zone from single-family/duplex to multifamily residential. The change would allow the organization to build a 48-unit affordable housing unit
for families.

Wayne Niederhauser, Utah Office of Homeless Services coordinator, addressed the council to express the state’s need for affordable housing.

“This is a product that is deeply needed in our state and our communities,” he said. “In 2023, we had 10,000 people in this state experience homelessness for the first time. It’s because we are now the ninth most expensive housing community in the country. We desperately need these units.”

Residents raised concerns about how the units would affect traffic, safety to nearby homes and the overpacking of what could be considered a flag lot, with one entrance to the property. 

Although the council agreed affordable housing units were needed in Midvale, they voted to deny the rezone request because the project didn’t fit into the current environment. 

“I do think everyone has said, through the current zone, we would be absolutely OK with affordable housing,” said Councilmember Bryant Brown. λ