Tom Pitcher, president of HighMark School Development, said Wednesday he will look for new property in the surrounding area - perhaps Herriman, Riverton or South Jordan - but not in Bluffdale.

He met with a wall of opposition Tuesday night when residents gathered at Bluffdale Elementary and called on their City Council to block a school from going up on a site they said was fraught with flooding and traffic hazards.

For the most part, the Council found its hands tied by new state law that put control over charter schools in the state's hands. Rep. Todd Kiser, R-Sandy, who was at the meeting, said lawmakers might have to address flaws that surfaced in this controversy.

In any case, Pitcher said he's out.

"We didn't want the kids in that hostile neighborhood," Pitcher said, referring to the residential dead-end street at about 14000 South and 4000 West and that area's vocal opposition to the new school.

"It seemed like they would stop at nothing to keep the school from coming into their backyard," he said, claiming some people screamed and jeered during the groundbreaking ceremony.

Meanwhile, some nearby residents are thrilled with the news.

"This is absolutely the right decision for all parties involved, especially the kids," said resident Terry Harper. He added that he and his wife would likely keep their three children in a lottery to get into the school if it ends up in a neighboring city. "Our concern was the safety of our children and the safety of the neighborhood. This satisfies all parties."

He said it's unfortunate Pitcher is left with a negative view of the area, but that the developer should have involved residents earlier on in the process. They heard about plans just two days before the groundbreaking.

Neighbors said Providence Hall would be a bad fit along the dead-end, residential 4000 West, which already hosts a middle school.

A canal behind the proposed school has flooded before. Residents showed video of a 2001 flood Tuesday, along with footage of traffic issues at Summit Academy, a charter school in neighboring Draper.

"I guarantee they'll find somewhere better," Harper said. "Because I don't think you can find anywhere worse."

sgehrke@sltrib.com