Between 915 and 1,000 units could be built near the Park City Tech Center as part of Summit County’s public-private partnership with Dakota Pacific Real Estate — a more than 80% increase from what officials said they would be willing to allow there in February.The total number would include 750 units built by the developer, of which 500 would be market rate and 250 would be designated affordable, most in the 60% area median income range, plus around 165 units of county-owned housing.It’s a slight change from earlier this year when the Summit County Council laid strict restrictions during negotiations with Dakota Pacific. Then, officials told the developer they were unlikely to approve the 727-unit proposal if it had more than 500 units.The hard line eventually led to a subcommittee forming so details of a public-private partnership could form. The idea was to create additional community benefits on the land and offset the impacts of new residences in the area. Last week, those involved unveiled a new $39 million mixed-use master plan.Under the latest proposal presented to the County Council on Wednesday, Dakota Pacific would cluster the majority of the housing away from S.R. 224 and towards the end of Tech Center Drive. Residential area A might have three- to four-story, higher-density buildings and larger condominiums while residential area B could be more townhome-type structures that are two or three stories tall with a range of units that promote a neighborhood-like feeling.Dakota Pacific Real Estate’s latest plan for the Park City Tech Center involves around 915 units being constructed on the western portion of the site while the east side would be used for public amenities. Credit: Dakota Pacific Real EstateSteve Borup, Dakota Pacific’s director of commercial development, said the design speaks to the Kimball Junction Neighborhood Plan, pedestrian priority and overall connectivity of the area. He pointed to activated street fronts and opportunities for neighbors to interact with each other.Borup proposed creating a “street for living,” or a woonerf, in the corridor. The Dutch term is used to describe a common space shared by pedestrians, bicycles and low-speed cars. All modes of travel are equal under the system, and traffic calming measures such as landscaping or street art are employed.While neighborhood amenities would be to the west, public amenities such as open space would be concentrated on the east side of the property.Dakota Pacific plans to build a pedestrian plaza where the existing Richins Building is. Behind it, there would be separate Olympic view areas and an amphitheater area with a network of public green spaces. Summit County would own the land, but Dakota Pacific could contribute to the cost. “We’ve purposely moved a lot of the open spaces that we’re investing in … so that it’s not just about neighborhood open spaces that the residents of this neighborhood enjoy and appreciate, but it’s a broader community destination for Summit County,” Borup said. Council members have repeatedly advocated for intentional community gathering spaces in the Snyderville Basin and suggested expanding the Olympic view and amphitheater areas.Other possibilities for the public-private partnership zone include a pedestrian footbridge, gondola connection and underground parking as well as commercial businesses, an updated civic center and a new transit facility.Concerns were raised by council members about the total unit count, which could increase to 1,005 if 90 units of senior housing are added. Vice Chair Tonja Hanson asked the developer to reduce its residential footprint. This partial residential master plan concept shows how a neighborhood cluster could be designed. Credit: Dakota Pacific Real EstateBorup acknowledged the need for assisted living and memory care options in Summit County with the possibility of Elk Meadows in Oakley closing. He said Dakota Pacific is working through the viability of that. The County Council also considered the potential impact of removing affordable units on the total density to help balance the public benefit, which Borup said he would revisit.“Since this P3 was proposed, we’ve thought a lot about what is the impact overall. I mean, to us, it adds a ton of benefits. In a lot of ways, it adds a lot of complexity and risk as well,” Borup said. Dakota Pacific has been adamant it needs to build more than 500 units to be financially feasible, but the public-private partnership could bring in additional funding sources.Details of the proposal, including the total number of units, are expected to change as negotiations continue. Dakota Pacific and Summit County will continue the discussions each week during County Council meetings with the goal of making a final decision on the project before the end of the year.Dakota Pacific first submitted its mixed-use application to change the zoning of the Tech Center in 2019. The legal battle surrounding the land has been paused until Oct. 8 with the option to extend the stay.The post Dakota Pacific’s vision for Tech Center blends housing, community spaces appeared first on Park Record.