This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The South Salt Lake Planning Commission is expected to vote Nov. 17 on a new proposal to develop the southern half of the old Granite High School property.
But the plan got 3½ hours of attention at the commission's meeting Thursday, where about 25 residents chimed in.
A plan to develop the site of the closed century-old school with homes and a Wal-Mart grocery store on the northern portion died at the hands of a mayoral veto in March.
Now, Garbett Homes has revived the deal with a proposal that focuses only on the less-controversial residential half of the lot. Garbett Homes has applied to change the land use to get started on construction of about 80 homes near 3540 S. 500 East.
The developer says the homes will imitate the style and solar capability of homes in the nearby Terra Sol development and feature a 1-acre park.
The commission's feedback to Garbett Homes: The proposed park doesn't meet city standards for green space, and the commission also thinks it could be better situated to serve the larger public.
Community Development Director Michael Florence says some of the speakers from the public liked the plan, and some listed lack of green space and wanting to preserve the property's history as concerns. Most opponents brought grievances from the old plan.
Residents hesitated to back a plan that didn't specify what would happen to the commercial northern half of the old school site.
"We made it clear to the Planning Commission that they had to consider the merits of the project that was in front of them, because the north half wasn't part of this project," said Florence.