Park City Council considers Bonanza Park rezoning

The Bonanza Park area. Photo: Park City Municipal

Park City Council will consider rezoning 70 acres in the heart of town for mixed-use development, with supporters and critics set to weigh in on plans that could bring hundreds of hotel rooms and housing units to the former proposed arts district.

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City Council will continue its discussion of the Bonanza Park Mixed Use District at Tuesday’s city council meeting, with residents invited to weigh in on rezoning and development plans.

Tonight’s discussion will focus on an ordinance to rezone approximately 70 acres of land between Park Avenue, Kearns Boulevard, Bonanza Drive, and Deer Valley Drive from General Commercial and Light Industrial to Bonanza Park Mixed-Use. After discussion and public comment, the council will consider adopting the ordinance or opt to continue the discussion at a later date.  

The proposed rezoning of Bonanza Park has drawn pushback from former planning commissioners and current city leaders, who warn it could permanently reshape the district with high-density residential and hotel development.

Former commission chairs Sarah Hall and Brad Olch argue the plan, which would permit up to 750 boutique hotel rooms and thousands of housing units, risks overwhelming infrastructure, eroding small-town character, and undermining affordable housing incentives. Hall cautioned that granting permanent entitlements without strong affordability requirements would weaken the city’s Affordable Master Planned Development program and set a precedent that “cannot be undone.”

Six goals are outlined in the Bonanza Park Small Area Plan:

1. Create a mixed use neighborhood with livability in mind
2. Support locally-owned business and entrepreneurship
3. Create a safe and intuitive network for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users
4. Expand the availability of affordable and workforce housing units
5. Create a more welcoming and sustainable community
6. Weave arts and culture into the community fabric

Within this area is the five-acre Bonanza Park lot. A previous planning study proposed the development of an arts and culture district in the lot, but with the relocation of Sundance to Colorado and the Kimball Arts Center to Kimball Junction, the council has been exploring other options and priorities. 

City council voted to partner with Brinshore Development, and have been working with their team to craft a vision for the project and outline next steps. 

The city council meeting is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Marsac Building.