Skyscraper developer seeks height exception for Park Meadows Plaza redevelopment on Kearns

Park Meadows Plaza redevelopment preferred proposal from developers. Photo: Park Meadows Plaza Redevelopment Proposal

PARK CITY, Utah — A major redevelopment proposal for Park Meadows Plaza will be back before the Park City Planning Commission, as local developer Ed Lewis seeks approval for a mixed-use project that includes a building height exception of nearly 15 feet.

The project would replace the aging commercial center at 1500 Kearns Boulevard — home to Tupelo, Park City Bike & Demo, and Create PC Local Artist Collective — with a mix of residential units, commercial space, and a central plaza. The proposal includes 97 market-rate units, 20 affordable units, roughly 9,500 square feet of commercial space, and 20,000 square feet of amenity and outdoor deck space, supported by an underground parking garage.

As part of the building design, Lewis, CEO of Kensington Investment Company who recently developed Utah’s tallest skyscraper in downtown Salt Lake City, is asking Park City for permission to build up to 49.5 feet in a zone that caps buildings at 35 feet.

Kensington Investment Company owns other prominent properties in Park City’s Prospector neighborhood, including the Bellemarc and Bellaire buildings on Sidewinder Drive.

To qualify for a height exception under city code, developers must increase setbacks and provide more than the minimum open space to reduce visual impacts. Instead, the applicant is requesting a 15-foot reduction to the required 25-foot side setbacks, placing portions of the building just 10 feet from neighboring property lines.

The Planning Commission reviewed an earlier version of the plan in August and raised concerns about the requested height, reduced setbacks, and potential impacts on adjacent properties.

In response, the development team made several adjustments, including adding six affordable units, reducing overall square footage, and proposing controlled daytime pedestrian access through the central plaza. However, the requested building height and setback reductions remain unchanged in the preferred design.

As part of the update, the developer also provided an alternate site plan showing a version of the project that fully complies with the 25-foot perimeter setback and does not require a height exception. Staff noted the exercise demonstrates the site can meet existing code standards, even if the applicant favors a different layout.

The commission will discuss the project in a work session Wednesday to decide whether the project meets the criteria required for granting a building height exception. The meeting begins 5:30 p.m. at the Marsac Municipal Building.

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected. There will be no public hearing at Wednesday’s meeting.