Developer fed up with Farmington

FARMINGTON — A mega-development is safe from the effects of RDA legislation, but planners are frustrated with the city's tentative approach to the project.

"They're being very cautious, slow to react and slow to move," said Rich Haws, president of the Farmington-based Haws Co. "The process of developing land like this is about the same no matter where you go — but sometimes the cities are more sophisticated."

For at least five years Haws has been working with Farmington to develop property around the Park Lane interchange. He has been buying land since 1996 and plans to build one of Utah's first transit-oriented developments.

The 100-acre development, known as Station Park, will be centered on a proposed commuter-rail station in Farmington and will include a mix of national retailers, eclectic shops, offices and housing.

But plans are moving slower than anticipated.

Haws and the city had to fight legislation this session that put a halt to all redevelopment agency projects for a year, squeaking by a Feb. 15 deadline for the suspension.

Now they're waiting for the Utah Transit Authority to receive federal approval of an environmental study of commuter rail. The city must also develop plans for roads and sewer pipes and prioritize where the RDA money will be used.

Steve Meyer, manager of commuter-rail construction for UTA, agrees that progress has been slow but said the project is breaking new ground for development in Utah.

While UTA has worked on other transit-oriented developments, this is the first time the authority has partnered with a project before construction.

"You wish it would go quicker, but it takes time," he said. "You're working with three different parties, and everyone is coming to it from a different perspective. The city wants a beautiful development that maximizes sales-tax potential. The developer wants to maximize his profit, and we want to maximize ridership.

"The trick is how to blend all those together."

Within three to four months, Haws expects to announce which retailers have signed letters of intent to build on the Station Park site. For more information, visit www.stationpark.com/p_vision.asp

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