Herriman approves MOU for regional park, amends Teton Ranch MDA to add 17 lots

The Herriman City Council on Jan. 8 approved a memorandum of understanding with Teton Ranch LLC, Olympioland LLC and Olympia Ranch LLC to advance a regional athletic complex and associated land swaps, and later approved an amendment to the Teton Ranch Master Development Agreement that would allow smaller lot sizes and up to 17 additional single-family lots (raising the MDA cap from 767 to 784), as part of the broader land-swap plan.

Wendy (city staff) presented the MOU as a nonbinding framework to coordinate multiple property deeds, rezones and master development agreement amendments needed to create a regional park and athletic complex. She detailed specific parcels, including changes to the 56100 West (Walker) property (a reduction of about 1.6 acres from a previously reported number) and moving a planned fire station to 56100 West. She said the MOU still requires rezones, general-plan amendments and MDAs and does not bind the council to final agreements.

The MOU discussion included a point of confusion about a previously referenced $700,000 payment tied to Olympiarelated MDA language; staff and developers clarified the item on the balance sheet and said the parties are working out precise language. Wendy characterized the document as conceptual "to lay out the framework of what we're working on, not completely agree to some of those provisions where it says shall and will."

Michael (planning staff) presented the proposed Teton Ranch MDA amendment: lot sizes in one section would be reduced from roughly half-acre lots to about one-third acre (about 13,000 sq. ft.), allowing 17 additional lots to offset about 77 homes displaced by the proposed park. The Planning Commission recommended approval 60. Michael said the amendment remains consistent with the general plan and zoning.

Some council members urged caution. Councilmember Sherry said she was "strongly concerned" and called the timing "premature" without language that protects the city if the park project does not materialize. "I would be comfortable if there was some language in here that said, if the other doesn't happen, you lose 17 units on the top end," she said. Others, including Jared and councilmembers who have been negotiating the land transfers, said Richmond American Homes and other developers have paused construction or agreed to hold phases so the city can pursue the swap; a city representative described the pause as an "earnest money" style concession that costs the builder time and money and helps keep the overall deal viable.

Councilmember Jared moved to approve the MOU (motion seconded by Steve); the council voted in favor. Later, Jared moved to approve ordinance 2025-02 amending the Teton Ranch MDA to allow the additional units; that motion was seconded and carried with affirmative recorded votes.

Both actions are procedural steps toward negotiating the larger regional-park agreement; staff and developers emphasized additional negotiations, public meetings and legal steps will follow before any final land conveyances or construction occur.

Next steps listed in the meeting record include community meetings, further revisions to MOU language to clarify contingencies, and ongoing work on reimbursement agreements and impact fees related to the development.