Park Plaza plan in Clinton includes Lowe's

CLINTON — Clinton residents soon may not have to drive to Layton or Riverdale for their home-improvement needs.

Wright Development, which bought 31 acres of property where Clinton City Hall, the city's police and fire departments and city park are located, has signed an agreement with Lowe's for the home-improvement store to build its 13th Utah store, which could open its doors in the spring.

Spencer Wright, the project manager for the development to be known as Park Plaza, said he is talking with a variety of other potential tenants. His proposed site plan, which he recently submitted to the city and is yet to be approved, incorporates the current city hall, where interior office space will be remodeled. The city sold its property near 1800 North and 2000 West to Wright Development in 2006 for $10.7 million.

According to a proposed site plan for the 31 acres, Lowe's is expected to be located on the northeast corner of the property, a site currently occupied by baseball fields.

The developer is also talking with a big-box store to occupy an area immediately south of Lowe's, said Clinton city planner Steve Parkinson.

The city's fire and police stations, which no longer meet seismic standards and have been outgrown by their departments, will be razed.

The sale allowed the city to embark on construction of a new city hall, police station, fire station, an administrative office for the city's park and recreation department, and a scorekeepers' and concession building on 57 acres of land near 2300 North and 1500 West. The city's new development will also include a new park and ball fields.

Rising construction costs recently forced the city to issue $4.9 million in short-term bonds to finish the project.

Wright officially takes over ownership of the property with the old city hall on Sept. 1 and will likely begin grading and preparing the site with a pad for Lowe's. Because the city's new city hall is behind schedule, the city will be allowed to continue using the old city hall until offices can be moved, Wright said, which should be early 2008.

"We're not inclined at all to kick them out," he said.

Over the past three and a half years, Clinton residents have seen a Wal-Mart, two credit unions and various other businesses locate across the street from City Hall.

"I think it's been a real boon and convenience to the community," Clinton city manager Dennis Cluff said of the Wal-Mart development.

He called Park Plaza "a prime commercial location."

"It's close to other businesses we have in the city," Cluff said. "It's right where people come."

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com