SANDY — Although developing the 107-acre Sandy gravel pit has been protested by some residents and welcomed by others, officials who broke ground on the project Friday said the intense examination has made it "one of the most unique projects in Salt Lake County and in the state of Utah.

"I don't think there are many projects in this state or any place in the United States that had more scrutiny than this project," said Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan. "Because of the participation of the residents of our community, this is a better project."

A multi-use development with a Wal-Mart, Lowe's home improvement store, several small retailers, townhomes, trails and 8-acres of park space are the final result of numerous public hearings and reviews by the city and its planning commission.

The groundbreaking comes almost two years after the Boyer Co., master developer, asked Sandy to change zoning on the site. Community activist group Save Our Communities, which opposed the change, eventually took the city to court, where it was ruled Sandy had to take the issue to the voters.

Residents voted 53 percent to 47 percent in favor of the zone change, which allowed for big-box development on the site at 9400 South and 1000 East.

"I don't believe in my career I've ever been involved in a process quite like this, where, literally, we did get the entire community of Sandy involved," said Wade Williams, director of retail development for Boyer Co. "And ultimately, the voters really decided the outcome of this, which was very, very unique."

Construction has already started on an the park, and Wal-Mart, Lowe's and housing development The Heights at Quarry Bend will begin shortly. The project will open in phases, with the two big-box stores and part of the housing units opening by this winter.

The new Wal-Mart replaces the old Sandy store by the South Towne Center that closed in late December. Sandy desperately wanted to keep the big-box retailer, because it is the No. 2 sales tax producer for the city, Dolan said.

"It will probably be one of the most upscale stores we build," said Don Schulthies, Wal-Mart marketing manager for Salt Lake City. The old building was tired and outdated, he said. The new store will not be the "typical, old-time, blue concrete box."

Design of the store will match The Heights at Quarry Bend, and the store's parking lot will not line a street edge, as most Wal-Marts do. Retail villages will sit in front of the parking lot and store.

Lowe's will also relocate to the gravel pit from its current location on 9000 South.