A California developer is still negotiating with the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission to change the Canyon Corners development agreement. But commissioners say they are getting closer to reaching a recommendation to forward on to the Summit County Council.

Representatives from CenterCal Properties met with the Planning Commission for the third time since March to discuss amending the development agreement, which governs approximately 8.5 acres on Landmark Drive across from the Ruby Tuesday restaurant and the Tanger Outlet Mall.

They want the county to allow them to build two buildings, instead of seven, and to allow new uses. The square footage would be the same, but the number of buildings would be reduced.

The two buildings would include of a 43,000-square-foot grocery store and another two-story building with 18,000 square feet slated for general retail uses.

At the meeting last month, commissioners were concerned about the developer’s obligation to provide affordable housing and traffic mitigation measures on Landmark Drive due to the new intended uses.

But on Tuesday, the developer proposed placing 20 affordable housing units in the top half of the two-story building above the general retail space and assured commissioners the grocery store, a Whole Foods Market, wouldn’t significantly impact traffic. The store is set to be the "first Whole Foods Market in Utah to feature its own taproom with local beer and wine on tap," according a May press release.

Planning Commission Chair Mike Franklin said commissioners are "relatively happy" with the new development agreement after the most recent meeting.

"We’re happy with the affordable housing and the traffic," Franklin said. "The applicant came to us and gave us an idea of what a taproom would consist of and they said it’s not a significant impact at the other Whole Foods around the nation. It’s just a place to go and grab a sandwich and a beer, so we’re pretty happy with that."

Commissioners are also negotiating with the developer about other responsibilities laid out in the development agreement, including a contribution toward a bus circulator, a bike sharing program and transportation impact fees. According to the Planning Department staff report, the developer will make a $50,000 one-time donation to help establish a bus circulator, a one-time contribution of $24,000 to create three bike sharing locations within the Kimball Junction area, and pay the county transportation impact fees, which would be approximately $600,000.

"The applicant has agreed to do all that and the Planning Commission is looking favorably on it," said Ray Milliner, Summit County planner. "It just isn’t set in stone until the development agreement is approved."

Franklin said at the next commission meeting the item could be set for a public hearing and a possible decision. However, he said commissioners are "pretty positive about it."

Alec Paddock, a development manager with CenterCal Properties, said he is confident "we are going to be moving forward soon."

"Hopefully, we can address all of their concerns," Paddock said. "We think they are great suggestions and we are working hard to find solutions and accommodate what they think the needs of the community are.

"We are close," he said. "County staff has been helpful to work with and have made it easy on us in terms of understanding what the community wants to see. We have been working hard to put something together that works for everyone."

Paddock said they are ready to "move forward immediately" with the project once they receive final approval from the Summit County Council.

"We’re excited to allow Whole Foods to kind of upgrade their store and we’re excited to be one of the first projects to contribute to affordable housing on site," he said. "We’re just excited to be a part of Kimball Junction and at the entrance to Park City."

The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission is scheduled to meet again Tuesday, July 14.