Group drops 'park, not parking lot' angle

Scott Verhaaren, a Boyer Co. partner, said his company doesn't want the zone change campaign to concentrate on big-box stores. Rather, "our objective has been to let people know about the entire project, instead of letting the focus be on one particular use," he said.

SOC also said Wednesday that city coffers would not have a net increase in tax dollars from the big-box stores, as city officials have hoped, because the stores will draw business from elsewhere instead of creating new revenue.

But Bob Springmeyer, who Sandy commissioned to do an economic impact study about the proposed development, said that the site would generate around $300,000 of sales tax revenue each year. He reached that number by analyzing the market area around the gravel pit for household income levels and potential sales.

SOC has disputed the language on the referendum, which Sandy City Attorney Walter Miller crafted. SOC has said the language was unclear and did not give voters a sense of what was at stake in the referendum. The Utah Supreme Court is considering SOC's request to rewrite the language, but has not yet announced any revisions. Sandy city has said that it needs firm language by Oct. 1 to print and distribute ballots.

SOC is to hold another meeting about the referendum Sept. 27 at the Sandy Library. The Boyer Co. does not have any scheduled events at this time, said public relations representative Kelly Casaday.

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E-mail: kswinyard@desnews.com