From Deseret News archives:
Spot for Draper rail stop still undecided
The city also is halting plans to renovate the historic Park School, saying its location near a planned light rail stop could provide a great place for additional transit-oriented development. The council has discussed creating a new zoning ordinance that would allow for skyscrapers, retail shops and office space.
Land owned by the Utah Department of Natural Resources — the Galena property — could be rezoned, as could property farther north owned by the Whitewater VII Corp. The Galena property is east of the Jordan River and north of Bangerter Highway.
Only one of the properties is expected to be made into a rail stop. The chosen spot will be the center of a high-density project that would feature buildings much taller than any currently allowed in the city.
The council has expressed a preference for putting the commuter rail stop on the Galena land because it is larger and farther from single-family homes than the Whitewater land.
However, any change in zoning wouldn't affect the state-owned Galena land unless it is traded for Whitewater property. That trade might require action by Utah's Legislature, which in 1999 voted to make the Galena Park land permanent open space.
American Indian artifacts have been recovered from the Galena property and are believed to be on the private land, according to Ben Ludworth, Utah natural resources property manager. However, Whitewater has refused to let the state sift through that land.
The Utah Transit Authority has pledged to build a commuter rail stop in Draper, contingent upon the council's vote to rezone. The stop had been planned for Bluffdale, and UTA owns land there, but would rather build in Draper, said UTA attorney Bruce Jones.
UTA has told Draper it needs a decision by the end of October so it can move forward with design plans.
Groundbreaking occurred earlier this summer for the rail line that will go from Ogden through Draper and on to Utah County.
The line will enable people to move about the valley without personal vehicles, so development surrounding it should also enhance walkability, according to UTA. However, several residents in Draper are against a massive development.
Real estate developer Mark Bass said the whole concept of the project is flawed.
"Realistically, people don't walk to the grocery store if they make enough to buy a car," he said, explaining that those who could afford to live in such a development would own and use cars regardless of the rail line.
