Plans for Santa Clara development with 50,000-square-foot pickleball complex divides council, residents

Written by Chris Reed
August 15, 2022

SANTA CLARA — A developer’s plan to build a residential and commercial complex in Santa Clara directly east of the Harmons Grocery complex in Santa Clara split the Santa Clara City Council at their meeting Wednesday night.

Artist’s representation of a 50,000-square-foot indoor sports center as part of the proposed Silverado Santa Clara project that would include 24 pickleball courts | Photo courtesy of City of Santa Clara, St. George News

The discussion of the possible zone change also caused Santa Clara’s city attorney to warn about the council chamber possibly needing to be cleared after an outpouring of emotion from opponents of the development.

The debate didn’t result in a decision as the council tabled the motion. 

Silverado Storage LLC of Orem, Utah, is requesting the rezoning of the land on Pioneer Parkway where it intersects with Red Mountain Drive. Plans are for Red Mountain to be extended through the middle of the development.

Silverado says this will allow them to build a complex that would include 96 apartments, a gas station, restaurant and – at its focal point – a 50,000-square-foot indoor sports facility with 24 pickleball courts. 

“That’s very unique,” Santa Clara Planning Manager Jim McNulty said. “Pickleball is very popular.”

Residents in neighboring Ivins, just to the north, have been petitioning their city to build additional pickleball courts. The developer said the courts at the new complex would be open to the public for a fee. 

Along with the apartments and  5.53-acre sports complex that also would include additional outdoor courts and an entertainment stage, the tentatively-named Silverado Santa Clara complex would feature 28 two-story “toy garages” designed to store recreational vehicles like all-terrain vehicles for traveling recreationists with what the developer describes as upstairs “man cave” bedrooms. 

The chamber at Santa Clara Town Hall was standing-room only with a group of residents opposing the project and making their presence known. 

Resident Gordon Palmer speaks before the Santa Clara City Council, Santa Clara, Utah, Aug. 10, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

It was enough that council member Jarett Waite, leading the meeting as mayor pro-tem with Mayor Rick Rosenberg absent, allowed Santa Clara resident Gordon Palmer to speak on their behalf “to be fair.”

Palmer said the main issues the nearby residents have is about the noise, traffic and light pollution of the project, which will have 584 parking spaces. 

“We were blindsided. We didn’t know what this was. This is a huge project,” Palmer told the council. “The decision was already made without the input of residents. I wonder if there was transparency or if this is a rubber stamp. Why doesn´t the city plan and approve projects that the residents are opposed to?”

City Attorney Matt Ence, who already admonished people in the chamber earlier after they applauded council member Denny Drake´s comment that he was concerned about the density of the project, replied to Palmer, ¨Want an answer to that?¨

After several people in the chamber yelled ¨yes¨ and were told again by Ence to refrain from outbursts, the city’s attorney noted that legally the city, its planning commission and its council have to hear requests for zone changes.

“There is a system to make land decisions for the city,” Ence said. “When an applicant comes to the city, the city has to hear that application. We don’t make land decisions by a popular vote.”

Santa Clara City Attorney Matt Ence, Santa Clara, Utah, Aug. 10, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

“Does that mean the public has no input?” Palmer replied.

“That belies the fact you are standing there and giving input,” Ence said.

After additional shouts from those in the chamber, Ence mentioned that the room might need to be cleared.

“That is enough, OK?” Ence said. “Look, Jarett as mayor pro-tem has the authority to clear this room and finish this meeting without you.”

Ence said the project had been discussed in previous council meetings as well as a public hearing before the city’s planning commission. 

“There has not been a closed-door meeting,” Ence said. “Any indication there is something shady going on … that’s not true.”

Joe Brown, a partner with Silverado, also said he “took offense” to comments that they were “doing something shady.” He told the council and those in the chamber that they are making it a priority to include the concerns of residents. 

“We take pride in working with the community. We’re committed to resolving those issues … noise, traffic and light,” Brown said. “As a developer with our engineers, we are willing to follow and do whatever is necessary to follow the code and meet that. We are not looking to build an eyesore. We’re willing to work on noise, traffic and light as much as we can.”

Joe Brown, left, a partner with Silverado Storage LLC at the Santa Clara City Council meeting, Santa Clara, Utah, Aug. 10, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

McNulty noted that the development would be in an area that is directly south of another large residential and commercial project: The under-construction Black Desert Resort.

Saying he doesn’t know if it’s the best use for the land, but it “is a good use,” council member Ben Shakespeare said a council can’t make a decision just on a vocal opposition that makes their presence known at a council meeting. 

“If we made decisions based on who comes out in opposition, we wouldn’t pass anything. Every development has opposition,” Shakespeare said. “As a City Council, the decisions we have to make are hard. We have to look at what’s best for the city.” 

That sentiment was echoed by fellow council person Leina Mathis, who said she spent 30 minutes in the same area after 11 p.m. to gauge the light and noise. She said it was there and around Harmons but not as evident in the neighborhoods nearby.

“You’ve all heard the term NIMBYs – we get those on every single project,” Mathis said, referring to the “not in my backyard” sentiment. “I listen to the residents but I also have to listen to residents of the entire city. We have to think of the entire city.”

But fellow council person Christa Hinton said while the project may be attractive from a city commerce perspective, it may not be for its residents.

Santa Clara City Council member Christa Hinton, Santa Clara, Utah, Aug. 10, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

“As a resident and a parent, I look with concern at the traffic coming into this intersection with this traffic. I do worry about the gas station and pollution,” Hinton said. “I have concerns with this project and wonder if it is best for the city.”

Waite shared the concerns about the traffic and said that the rezoning proposal was missing the one thing that could alleviate those concerns: A traffic study. 

“I’m a bit concerned not having a traffic study in front of us,” Waite said. “It’s hard to make a good decision when there’s not a traffic study that was promised.” 

Ultimately, in a unanimous 5-0 vote, the council tabled the motion pending the release of a traffic study.

Waite said he had other concerns. Earlier in the meeting, Silverado officials said they were “not pursuing low-cost housing” as part of the project and that assertion concerned Waite.

“We had work meetings asking the developer to include affordable housing so some of our firefighters and teachers can live there and be able to afford it,” Waite said. “That’s not this project.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris Reed serves as a reporter for St. George News, where he has been honored with several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for his work, including first-place accolades. He started his journalism career as a sports reporter and editor in Southern California where he once compared shoe sizes with Shaquille O'Neal and exchanged mix tapes with members of the Los Angeles Kings. After growing up in the San Fernando Valley learning karate skills from Mr. Miyagi and spending a decade in Las Vegas mostly avoiding the casinos, he came to St. George for love and married his soulmate, a lifetime Southern Utah resident. He is the proud father of two boys, his youngest a champion against both autism and Type 1 diabetes.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGNews

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