This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

SOUTH JORDAN - Daybreak, Kennecott Land's planned housing development overlooking the Salt Lake Valley, has issued the first yearly report on its quest for "sustainable development."

More importantly, the company, which was spawned by the huge copper mining and smelting operation in the Oquirrh Mountains, is calling on residents of its walkable community and leaders and neighbors in surrounding towns to grade its progress toward building a community that melds homes, offices and stores.

If it's rare to see a residential development issue a progress report, it's rarer still to see one ask for critical feedback.

"We have high goals. We aim to continually challenge ourselves and to be leaders in sustainable development as we build enduring communities on Salt Lake Valley's west bench," says Kennecott Land President Peter McMahon in the report.

Francisco Benavides, Kennecott Land's manager of sustainable development and environment, says the report and online survey are simply extensions of the culture Kennecott Land is building at Daybreak, which opened June 2004.

"This is a way to satisfy the expectations of our residents. People expect to receive information from us and we want to be transparent," Benavides says. "We plan to do it every year."

The "2006 Development Report," offers a snapshot of Daybreak's progress in three areas of so-called sustainability: environmental, social and economic.

"That is one of the main reasons I moved to Daybreak," says resident Christian Burridge. "The sustainabilty in ecosystems. It is the responsible way to develop and [is] unique in Utah - better than buying some land, dropping a bunch of houses on it and moving on."

Though many Utahns would have a difficult time defining what a "sustainable community" means, Benavides says Daybreak proves the state has thousands of homeowners who want to join a community that supports the environment and contributes to healthy and meaningful lives.

"People may not be able to explain sustainability in elegant terms," he says. "But they are able to talk about the concept. And consumers demand it."

Only 1,000 homes have been built so far on what will be a 4,000-acre "walkable community." Kennecott ultimately hopes Daybreak will have 1,400 residential units, along with commercial areas, trails, churches and open space.

Kennecott Land defines three "pillars of sustainability" by which success at Daybreak will be measured:

- The project promises to minimize or mitigate the potential harmful environmental impacts of development. For instance, Daybreak conserves storm water to recharge the aquifer.

- Daybreak strives to be safe and healthy socially. An example is the use of roundabout intersections, which have been found to be safer than traditional crossroads.

"We have dozens of clubs from wine tasting to Bible study," Benavides says of Daybreak's blossoming social network. "We provide the rooms and tools they need to be successful."

- The company aims to build neighborhoods where people can live, work and shop in support of the local economy. Daybreak's retail centers and office buildings are just starting out and should show results by the end of 2008, Benavides says.

But already, Kennecott Land's sustainability concept is spreading from Daybreak, says Kennecott spokeswoman Jana Kettering. Just three years ago, some contractors shied away from the project, saying meeting the environmental goals would interfere with profitability. Now, "Many have trickled back to us," she says. "We are having an impact."

Daybreak paid the Rocky Mountain Institute to study its accomplishments, including energy-efficient designs, water-wise landscaping and recycling of contruction waste. The institute encouraged Daybreak to do more and work with lenders to provide home buyers mortgage incentives for buying energy efficient homes.

Finally, Daybreak is committed to a more difficult goal, Benavides says. "We want to be an inclusive community."

Kennecott Land hopes to produce diversity by keeping the cost of some homes reasonable. Daybreak offers some single-family houses for $173,000, he says. The median price for a home in the valley is about $320,000.

"It's important for a community to have different socio-economic backgrounds," says Burridge (who was interviewed on his cell phone while he fished in the development's lake). "It gives diversity to the community and different points of view. It's good for our children to grow up with people of different backgrounds."

Kennecott is committed to providing more lower-income housing, including rental property, to attract a wide diversity of residents, Benavides says. "We would fail miserably if we didn't continue that part of our vision."

Feedback wanted

Kennecott Land wants to know what you think of Daybreak:

* There you can download a copy of the progress report and also complete a survey on the development.

* If you don't have access to the Internet, you can request a report at 801-743-4624.