100-foot buffer rule halts $38M Park City High School sports complex

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City School District’s $38 million overhaul of the high-school athletic complex has run into two late-breaking hurdles that could push construction past the summer window and inflate costs, JD Simmons, Sr. Project Manager with MOCA, told the Board of Education on May 20.

The project bundles demolition of the defunct Treasure Mountain building with new baseball and softball diamonds, a soccer pitch, tennis courts, and a resurfaced track at Dozier Field. Although the plan cleared a conditional-use permit in April, city planners later cited:

• a long-dormant ordinance requiring a 100-foot open-space buffer along the Lucky John neighborhood, which blocks the support building originally planned for Dozier’s north end; and
• a new mandate that the artificial turf be certified PFAS-free, triggering additional lab tests.

“They came back and said there’s an ordinance that has a 100-foot buffer,” Simmons shared. “The building that was proposed on the north end of Dozier is not allowed because there’s not 100 feet of clearance.”

Rebecca Ward, Park City’s Planning Director said city staff looked into the issue after a question about the ordinance was brought forth by a resident.

“After a second deep dive we discovered the ordinance,” Ward said.

The City’s current zoning map does not reflect the ordinance rezoning approximately 40 acres surrounding Park City High School from residential development to recreation open space, which effectively amended the city’s official zoning map in 1986.

School officials pointed out that previous to the approval of the April 9 CUP, two other CUPs were approved and no challenge was brought forth about the buffer until now. During a due diligence period an ALTA survey was conducted, which did not identify the 100-foot setback, school officials said.

Design flipped east-west

Architects have “pivoted to an east-west design,” Simmons said, squeezing bleachers and support space together to stay outside the buffer. The revision must return to the Planning Commission, which officials say they hope will happen on June 25. Neighbors have 45 days to appeal the April permit.

Summer start in doubt

A pre-bid walkthrough on May 20 drew strong contractor interest; sealed bids are due May 29. Staff hope to award a contract in mid-June and fence the site in July, but any slip could push track work into the school year and compress fall sports schedules.

Chemical clearance pending

The district has submitted one round of turf lab results and expects a second set within two weeks. Approval is required before artificial turf can be installed.

Business Administrator Randy Jensen, speaking earlier in the meeting about overall finances, warned the district “can’t sustain the way we are doing it,” reinforcing the need to keep bond projects on time and on budget.

District officials said they will continue working with city staff to resolve the buffer issue and will update the board once PFAS test results arrive.

Editor’s note: Marina Knight contributed to this report.