As proposed, Park City Heights would comprise up to 146 income-restricted townhouse and duplex units, and 157 market-priced, single-family houses on a 287-acre parcel just east of the city limits along State Route 248 near U.S. Highway 40.

Salt Lake City-based real estate agent and developer Walt Plumb - whose project is in conjunction with Talisker Corp. and Intermountain Healthcare - wants it annexed into Park City. And the City Council - enamored of the prospect of a bounty of proposed work force housing - looks willing.

But there's a speed bump. The project would increase by an estimated 16 percent the vehicle traffic at the town's back door that already is bumper-to-bumper during morning and evening rush hours.

Thursday, the council asked city planners to find ways to make the project smaller - by at least 30 affordable-housing units and an unspecified number of market-priced houses - before it votes to annex the area.

Traffic isn't the only issue. But it appears to be the most troublesome.

"You can't mitigate the effect of that traffic," resident Peter Marth told the council. "You're bringing in noise and air pollution."

Although the municipality has planned a "park-and-ride" lot near the intersection of State Routes 248 and 40 to help lure workers and visitors onto the city's bus system, Councilwoman Candice Erickson said she is fearful of building that many houses along the town's east-entry corridor.

"I'm just not comfortable with that kind of density," she said.

But Councilman Jim Hier noted that commuters will be driving into town whether they live in Park City Heights or Kamas or Heber City.

"In the future, life will be worse for anyone coming in on that highway - with or without this project."

csmart@sltrib.com