GOEO approves Kimball Junction Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone

The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) has announced approval of a Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone (HTRZ) in Summit County. 

The proposed development in Kimball Junction marks the ninth HTRZ approved in the state. The new HTRZ expands the program’s affordable housing efforts into Summit County. There have been HTRZs previously approved in Utah, Salt Lake and Davis counties.

“Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zones are designed to help Utah tackle its housing affordability challenges by facilitating mixed-use, multi-family and affordable housing,” said Jefferson Moss, executive director of GOEO. “By strategically locating these zones near transit stations, we encourage development that enhances public transportation use, optimizes parking, helps conserve water through efficient land use and improves air quality by reducing vehicle trips.”

The newly approved Kimball Junction HTRZ encompasses about 60 acres located within a one-third of a mile of the local transit center. Designed to increase both housing availability and affordability, the development will introduce more than 800 new dwelling units and offer a diverse variety of options, including townhomes, apartments and condos, GOEO said in its announcement.

“I am extremely impressed with the product and the responsiveness brought back,” said Utah Sen. Wayne Harper, R-Salt Lake, during the March HTRZ meeting in response to Summit County’s proposal. “It is a needed project up there, and it’s really focused on transit and maximizing resources.”

To address the urgent need for affordable housing, 500 of these units will be designated as deed-restricted workforce housing, Moss said. Additionally, 400 units are classified as “moderate income” or “affordable,” which surpasses the 33 percent statutory requirement.

“The Kimball Junction project will provide significant public benefits to Summit County through its innovative mixed-use design, addressing market challenges that might otherwise make development too costly,” the GOEO release said. The site will include commercial spaces, educational facilities, civic and health care services and community gathering areas centered around a new and expanded transit center, along with a parking podium that will accommodate 1,000 vehicles.

“This is a landmark moment for Kimball Junction,” Summit County Manager Shayne Scott said. “The HTRZ represents a key piece of the proactive, forward-thinking planning underway in this part of our community. With hundreds of deed-restricted workforce housing units, expanded transit infrastructure and vibrant community spaces, this development will make Summit County more accessible and livable for families at every income level. We are proud to partner with the state to bring this vision to life.”

Development of the Kimball Junction HTRZ will involve the relocation of the Summit County Library into a new County Services building at the site. Other new civic buildings, a public plaza surrounded by mixed uses, a park and an amphitheater will also be included in addition to a dedicated senior care and medical facilities. A new pedestrian bridge will connect to the east side of State Road 224, creating a new entrance arch to the Park City area and improving local walkability.