Eight in 10 Park City residents who responded to a reader poll want less development and more open space at the city-owned Bonanza Five-Acre Site, putting a number on the opposition facing the Brinshore Development proposal one week before the Planning Commission could vote.

The TownLift poll, conducted Aug. 13–18, collected 525 valid responses after screening out duplicates. Of the 341 respondents living within Park City limits, 53% said the site should remain primarily open space or a park, 29% preferred lower-density development with substantial green space and 16% backed the current Brinshore plan.

Combined, 82% of city respondents chose something other than what's on the table.

The poll is self-selected, not a random sample, and carries no statistical margin of error. But it lands alongside a 2,399-signature petition that opposition group PLACE Park City delivered to the City Council on Aug. 13, and a packed Wednesday, Aug. 12 Planning Commission hearing where more than 20 residents spoke, most critically.

"It is too big, too dense, too tall and, importantly, I believe it lacks the creativity and imagination that this extraordinary piece of publicly owned land deserves," Rich Wyman, a longtime Park City workforce-housing advocate, told the Planning Commission at that Aug. 12 hearing, according to the Park Record.

As we reported Aug. 19, councilmembers themselves are divided on the project. Brinshore Development has not publicly responded to the poll results or the petition.

What's proposed

Brinshore's plan calls for seven buildings totaling about 185,500 square feet on the roughly five-acre lot at Bonanza Drive and Kearns Boulevard. The project includes 106 rental units (88 affordable), more than 30,000 square feet of retail and arts space, a childcare center and 280 underground parking stalls. Park City is contributing up to $40 million in hotel-tax revenue to split costs with the developer.

The city bought the land for $19 million in 2017 for an arts-and-culture district anchored by the Kimball Art Center and Sundance Institute. Both later relocated, and the city restarted planning.

Six of the seven proposed buildings seek height exceptions above the zone's 35-foot limit, with flat roofs reaching 46.5 to 55 feet. Developer representative Steven Swisher with GTS Development told the commission the extra height allows about two acres of the site, or 62%, to remain as open space. Planning Commission Chair Christine Van Dine acknowledged the tension at the Aug. 12 hearing, telling KPCW that granting 55-plus feet "when the land management code says 35 feet for that zone, that's a stretch."

What's next

The Planning Commission's next public hearing is Wednesday, Aug. 26, when it could take final action on the subdivision, master planned development and conditional use permit applications or continue the matter to Sept. 9. If approved, the project would still require City Council approval of the development agreement.

City spokesperson Clayton Scrivner said public input remains meaningful during the commission's review and will continue when the council considers the development agreement. Residents can find meeting details at parkcity.gov.