Eagle Mountain City took a step this week to plan for a new downtown area.
Following initial discussions last year, Eagle Mountain City is taking a fresh approach to ensure a future downtown meets the needs and expectations of the community.
“We all have an amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to design a downtown from scratch, to contribute our ideas and energy into something that will give the city identity for decades.” says Economic Development Director Evan Berrett.
The idea behind creating a downtown is to give Eagle Mountain a central spot where residents and visitors can enjoy a variety of activities and services.
Plans for this area call for small businesses to set up shop, which will be great for local entrepreneurs. It is also intended to offer recreational, cultural, educational and entertainment options for residents.
The design process for the downtown will involve collaborative discussions with stakeholders. The city will be working closely with MHTN Architects, a firm with experience in creating community-centered spaces.
“MHTN will be assuming a supportive role while the City Council, Planning Commission, and most importantly the residents take the lead in defining what this downtown area looks like and contains,” says Berrett.
This process will involve the City Council, the Planning Commission, and input from residents and businesses.
Designers will have to work within certain limits, like how dense the area can be and what types of development are allowed. This ensures that the downtown fits with the city’s vision and community values.
“’Downtown’ can be an uncomfortable word, and maybe ultimately, we will be calling the area something else,” says Berrett. “Regardless, we are aiming to establish an area of the city we love and that matches who we are.”
The City won’t be directly developing the downtown. Instead, it’s looking into acquiring the land needed to make sure the plans are followed. Private developers and companies will be responsible for building the businesses and other features in the downtown area.
The City will consider investing and contributing toward some public amenities and facilities.
Nearby Saratoga Springs is also expected to grow significantly. This means there will be more people living and working in the area, which can support a bustling downtown.
But the new downtown isn’t just for locals; it aims to attract visitors as well, who often spend more at local shops than residents do.
Previously, Eagle Mountain was working on what were called the “Small Area Plans,” which included three different areas for development. These plans were stopped last year.
The new Downtown Master Plan is different, with a focus on creating a more cohesive and community-driven vision, rather than splitting efforts among several smaller projects.
“This year, we are undergoing a General Plan update which will satisfy the needs of other areas that need attention, for now,” says Berrett. “The downtown area will get special priority right now to meet our goals in supporting small businesses and providing better amenities to residents.”
Eagle Mountain City wants to make sure that the new downtown is something everyone feels they have a stake in.
There will be plenty of ways to get involved, including in-person and online feedback options for sharing ideas. Keep an eye out for more information on how you can participate.
