Senior development coming to Parkway, 7200 South

By Travis Barton | [email protected]

After the West Valley City Council approved an ordinance earlier this year that allowed for more potential locations for senior housing developments, several have now come before the council in 2021. The most recent proposal came in July as the council voted 4-2 to approve a zone change that would allow a senior housing project at Parkway Boulevard and 7200 South. 

The property, about 6.7 acres, is currently a site of dirt and weeds that was once planned to be the location of a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The project will have a pavilion and gazebo, pickleball court, 11 visitor parking spaces, and would be maintained by a homeowner’s association.

“It’ll be a quality development that any city would be happy to have,” said Randy Moore, the project developer and owner from Moore Homes. 

The proposal included a 43-unit, single-level condo development with 6.4 units per acre with each unit having a two-car garage. 

In both the council meeting where the project was approved, and the preceding planning commission where the project received a 5-2 vote recommending approval, not everyone was convinced. 

Residents of neighboring streets next to the property on Antelope Road and Mountain Goat Way, voiced concerns such as traffic, density and an overall wish to see single-family homes built. 

“We want room to breathe,” said Robert Goodick, a resident of Antelope Road. “The last thing we want to see out of our front door is more high density.” 

Residents also pointed out existing senior housing developments nearby including Bingham Point at 3151 S. 7200 West and Hunter Villas at 3260 S. Hunter Villa Lane. 

“I feel on this side of West Valley we have enough of these types of developments,” Goodick told the council. “We don’t need them all concentrated on this side of West Valley.” 

Goodick also pointed out the council’s own desire to see more larger, single-family homes built in the city. 

Mayor Ron Bigelow acknowledged as much, as the council has voiced on various occasions over the past five years. Officials have often spoken of a need for a variety of housing in the city and to fill certain housing gaps. Bigelow identified two types of housing the city needs more of is senior housing and larger single-family homes (known as the RE, or residential estate, zone that the city created several years ago). 

A few people spoke in favor of the senior housing option, with a member of the nearby Bingham Point senior housing, Pamela Lyon, saying there is a “strong need” for senior housing as “older people look to downsize their homes.” 

Steve Vincent, a former city councilmember who was on the council when the RE zone was created, noted senior housing is a “piece of the puzzle that still needs to be addressed by the council.” 

For two years, Vincent said he and his wife have looked for a place like this project to move to and would prefer to stay in the city. 

Moore addressed resident concerns noting senior housing tends to have less traffic due to the demographic living there. Bigelow and councilmembers requested further study of the 7200 West and Parkway Boulevard intersection due to resident concerns and the frequency of traffic accidents. 

While the project was ultimately approved 4-2 (Councilmembers Karen Lang and Jake Fitisemanu Jr. dissented), their request that no access be allowed from Antelope Drive was approved.