Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SOUTH JORDAN — After months of conflict with West Jordan over the now-failed Facebook negotiations, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams on Monday offered an olive branch.
The peace offering doubled as an effort to spur what McAdams called "strategic and deliberate" development of the county's last remaining vacant lands: thousands of acres that sprawl along the base of the Oquirrh Mountains from Herriman, along the newly built Mountain View Corridor, to West Valley City.
Flanked by city leaders from Herriman, Riverton, South Jordan and West Valley, the mayor announced his proposal to form and fund the Mountain View Economic Development Commission — similar to the panel currently master planning the land the Utah State Prison will leave vacant when relocated.
West Jordan Mayor Kim Rolfe didn't attend Monday's event, but he and City Manager Mark Palesh later welcomed McAdams' proposal, eager to move past the months of tension with Salt Lake County leaders.
"Given the events over the last several months, I think it's important we come together for a proposal about how we work strategically to grow the economic pie for all cities, municipalities and school districts for the west side of Salt Lake County," McAdams said at a news conference held at the Rio Tinto Distribution Center in South Jordan.
Sweeping views of the county's vacant west side acted as a backdrop.
"This really is the last tract of undeveloped land in Salt Lake County," the mayor said. "Let's make sure it becomes a game changer for our county and not just developed in a haphazard fashion."
Ideally, development would yield major employment centers — with more advanced manufacturing opportunities like Boeing or Rio Tinto — and include diverse transportation and housing options, McAdams said.
West Jordan city leaders believed a Facebook data center would act as the impetus the city needs to begin developing the 1,700-acre technology corridor they've envisioned.
But when McAdams refused to support the rich incentive package to lure the social media giant, the deal took a nosedive into a hailstorm of controversy that ended with Facebook choosing a sweeter offer from Los Lunas, New Mexico.
To McAdams, the Facebook negotiations highlighted opportunities that have been "slipping through our fingers" — not just for West Jordan, but also for other west-side cities.
"For far too long we have been reactive, accepting and even incentivizing companies' relocations and expansions without a big-picture view of how it fits in with our community's fabric," he said.
McAdams pointed to the Mountain View Corridor, the highway that will eventually be a 35-mile connector from state Route 73 in Utah County to I-80 in Salt Lake County — the arterial that will feed Salt Lake County's now barren west side.
"The state of Utah already has a billion dollars invested in this corridor, with several billion to come," he said. "This is our state's most valuable economic development asset — bar none. We have a unique, unparalleled opportunity, so lets work arm-in-arm with all of the cities along this corridor to make it happen the right way."
Palesh was invited to McAdams' event but could not attend because of another commitment, he said. Rolfe was also unable to attend, but West Jordan City Councilman Zach Jacob represented the city.
"It's a step toward working together and healing the rift," Jacob said. "I think it's a great opportunity to really plan for the future of our city."
Rolfe said he hasn't seen the details of the proposed committee yet but is looking forward to learning more about it, "ready to move forward and work together to shape the future of the west side."
"We disagreed over a major issue, but that's over with as far as I'm concerned," Palesh said. "The ball is in (McAdams') court to flesh out a little bit, but we are certainly receptive."
The mayor proposed the county commit $200,000, subject to County Council approval, to the Mountain View Economic Development Commission's efforts. County leaders will then seek matching funds from the state and other partners this year, McAdams said, though officials are still ironing out the details of the Legislative ask.
Salt Lake County mayoral candidate Dave Robinson was critical of McAdams' proposal, labeling it an "election stunt."
“This is a McAdams election eve campaign tactic. Six weeks prior to the election, McAdams now takes notice of the west side," Robinson said, accusing the incumbent mayor of neglecting several west-side amenities, including South Jordan's equestrian park and the Marv Jensen Recreation Center.
Currently, McAdams and other county leaders are pushing for voters to renew a parks and recreation bond, which would yield about $90 million for new parks projects, as well as funding to renovate and maintain existing facilities.
"I trust that Salt Lake County voters will see this for what is: just another simple election stunt," Robinson said. "The voters know the issues. They know that they have been neglected by the McAdams administration while he continues to raise their taxes.”
