Megaplex Theater in Centerville

Davis ‘stars’ shine for Megaplex launch

byJenniffer Wardell

Sep 25, 2010 | 747 views | 0  |  | 8  |  | 

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The groundbreaking for the theater was held Thursday, and construction is expected to be completed by October 2011. The theater, which will include the first IMAX screen in Davis County, will serve as the anchor for the Legacy Crossing Development.

CENTERVILLE — “I think this is a prime opportunity and a prime place to build this theater.”

That sentiment, shared by Gail Miller, owner of the Larry H. Miller Group, was echoed by several of the speakers at the groundbreaking for the new Centerville Megaplex 14 development, held Thursday.

Lt. Gov. Greg Bell, Centerville City Mayor Ronald Russell, and others shared their hopes and plans for the theater that will serve as an anchor for the larger Legacy Crossing Development.

“This spot has been here a long time, and it’s begged for some kind of activity,” said Bell, referring to the building’s site just west of I-15. “This development will be good for the entire area.”

The new theater, which is expected to be completed by October 2011, will encompass 90,000 square feet and include 14 screens. One of those screens will be the first IMAX theater in Davis County, and other amenities will include D-Box motion seats and 100-flavor interactive freestyle Coke machines.

Megaplex Theatres’ Senior Vice President, Blake Anderson, said the building has been a long time coming in the eyes of the public.

“Since I’ve held this position, I’ve received numerous phone calls and e-mails asking us to build a Megaplex in Davis County,” he said. “When word got out on our Facebook site, comments kept pouring in like ‘It’s about time’ and ‘Oh yes, I will so be there.’”

Greg Miller, CEO of the Larry H. Miller group, agreed.

“Looking at the map and seeing the big void in this part of the state, it made a pretty easy decision to put a theater here,” he said. Theater officials estimate that the theater will get a million visitors per year.

The theater will serve as the anchor for a mixed use development that will include 30,000-50,000 square foot units of retail space, retail pads, restaurants, offices, and a housing component that U.S. Development’s Dan Bridenstine should start sometime in the next 90-120 days.

Though it’s only been a year since U.S. Development pitched the project to the Larry H. Miller Group, the location caused several challenges in getting it to this point.

“We had doubts at points whether we could pull off various components of this, so it’s exciting to be here,” said Mayor Russell, referring to the zoning and infrastructure issues that had to be taken care of. “Our city staff, planning commission and city council went through countless hours of putting various details of this together, but it’s going to open up development in this whole area.”

He talked about the early days of the property, when it served as the home for a local goat herd.

“We were concerned that this would always be a field for goats, or it would turn into a development that wouldn’t be good for the greater community,” Russell said. “This is what we were hoping for.”

Bell highlighted the economic potential of the development, something that is sorely needed in this economy.

“People have told me ‘Why did you want to be lieutenant governor? You only go to shopping center openings,’” he said. “These days, though, there aren’t many shopping center openings. Detroit would love something like this.”

jwardell@davisclipper.com

Read more:Davis County Clipper - Davis ‘stars’ shine for Megaplex launch

Planning Commission Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the Centerville City Planning Commission will hold an additional public hearing on Wednesday, October 13, 2010, beginning at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in the City Council Chambers at the Centerville City Hall Building, 250 North Main Street, to consider adoption of a General Plan Amendment, Section 12-480-7, South Main Street Corridor Plan;  and changes to the Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 12-48, South Main Street Corridor Zone, between Parrish Lane and Pages Lane.  
 
More information about these proposed changes may be obtained by contacting the Community Development Department, during business hours, at 801-292-8232.
 
Marilyn Holje, City Recorder

ksl.com - UTA fuel surcharge increases fares by up to 16 percent

ksl.com - UTA fuel surcharge increases fares by up to 16 percent

ksl.com - UTA mails 95,000 free bus passes

ksl.com - UTA mails 95,000 free bus passes

While We Continue To Wait - Clipper Article - May 2008

UTA light rail support voted down in W.B.

by Shain Gillet

May 14, 2008 | 18 views | 0  | 0  |  | 

WEST BOUNTIFUL -- Kerry Doan made several presentations outlining what a light rail system could do for the city of West Bountiful and neighboring cities, but the resolution failed anyway. "The problem I have is that we have so many other projects our citizens want us to address, and yet we're considering whether or not to raise the city's taxes for this system," said West Bountiful council member Ken Romney. "We should be focused on fixing our own city's needs first."

The proposed light rail was presented to city council back in January, when Utah Transit Authority representative Kim Clark told council members about their plans to put in a light rail system. She stated at the time that there would be a low-cost benefit for riders in the areas between Farmington and Salt Lake City.

The rail's benefits included improvement in ridership, leading to a decrease in vehicle usage. The light rail will run along 2600 South, bordering the cities of Woods Cross, Bountiful and North Salt Lake.

Council members had issues with increasing their taxes in the city then, stating that it would create more traffic problems because it's considered a congested area to begin with. Another issue brought about by council member Valerie Shaw was safety, as the rail would share one lane of roadway with traffic.

"I don't like the way it looks," she said about the design of the light rail in North Salt Lake and beyond. "I just don't feel safe about sharing a lane of traffic with the rail."

Further studies have shown that the city's benefits to the rail system is minimal at best, and that other, more important, issues should take priority.

"We have enough problems in our own city," said Shaw. "I want to know what our citizens think before we pass a resolution to support this."

Between Clark and UTA's other representative Kerry Doan, they were unable to convince the city council over the next three months. Soon after Doan's updated information was proposed to the city, council members voted the resolution down.

"There are more pressing issues we as a city need to address," said Shaw.

"I like what UTA is doing, but I just don't see the overall benefits outweighing the city's needs."



sgillet@davisclipper.com

Wasatch Front Regional Council - Part 2?

Apparently we are not following the plan! We're not doing it correctly!

From the "Wasatch Front Regional Transportation Plan 2007-2030," p. 140:

"South Davis Line (Centerville) – A regional level transit BRT II should be constructed from Parrish Lane in Centerville to the intersection of about 400 South and State Street in Salt Lake City.  This service would provide a direct connection between the activity centers in much of southern Davis County with each other, with downtown Salt Lake City, and with the regional transit system which is focused upon downtown Salt Lake.  The programmed 

construction cost for this project is about $96 million in 2007 value dollars.  Another $30 million in 2007 value dollars is anticipated to upgrade this project in the third phase. This project was in the 2030 LRP Update three years ago although the suggested alignment was modified in Centerville to run on Main Street rather than 200 West. 

From the "Wasatch Front Regional Transportation Plan 2007-2030," p. 142: 

"South Davis (Farmington) Line - A regional level transit enhanced bus line should be constructed from the north end of Lagoon Amusement Park to Parrish Lane. This would provide greater amenities to transit patrons traveling north within southern Davis County to downtown Farmington public services, to the Farmington FrontRunner Station, a proposed mixed-use development near that station, and to Lagoon Amusement Park.  The programmed construction cost for this project is about $9 million in 2007 value dollars.  The project was in the 2030 LRP Update three years ago as a BRT II and remains in the 2030 RTP as an Enhanced Bus." 

Wasatch Front Regional Council?

I have been reading lately from the website of the Wasatch Front Regional Council. These are the guys that really know what is going on. They make plans for the Wasatch Front and it's highways and transit systems. By the way, you can find them at: http://www.wfrc.org/cms/. 

On May 24, 2007, they adopted the "Wasatch Front Regional Transportation Plan 2007-2030." I haven't read the entire document, but one aspect that I found interesting, there is no recommendation for any fixed rail transit in Davis County other than FrontRunner. Now, this is from the holy grail of transportation documents. This publication discusses roads, highways, buses, enhanced and rapid buses, bicycle trails, park and ride lots, trains, light rail, streetcars, population patterns, etc. I think this document knows our travel plans for the summer!

Use the following link to look at the "2030 RTP Transit Project Type" map: 

http://www.wfrc.org/cms/rtp_amendments/April_2009/RTP%20Transit%20Projects%2028Aug08.pdfU

The recommendation for South Davis County is bus transportation! 

Maybe I will buy one of the books that contain this "plan" and give it to the UTA. They must have lost their copy. 

Centerville City News

I received my copy of the Centerville City News today. The front page article is entitled, "South Davis Transit Study." It was written by Mayor Russell. The concluding sentence states, "It is difficult to predict where are economy may go or what our transit needs may be in the future, but for now let's move on and talk about other issues."


I thought the Mayor explained the current status of things fairly well. However, I did have a couple of thoughts. It is true that future economic conditions are hard to predict. And the uncertainly is elevated significantly because of the current administration in Washington that is doing everything possible to prolong the economic downturn we are experiencing. But this much we do know, with 8% growth coming to Centerville and 3% to Bountiful over the next 30 years (remember, that represents 4% of the growth in the transit study area), with current ridership on bus transit that is at best characterized as low, and with existing rail transit running well below capacity and expectations, the need for a another rail line will NEVER exist. Maybe, Mr. Russell, that's why the citizens of this community continue to talk about this issue. They don't want rail tracks on Main Street and are waiting for their leaders to acknowledge what they already know.

Due to Outcry, UTA Rethinking South Davis Transit Corridor - Davis County Clipper Article May 25, 2010

Due to outcry, UTA rethinking S. Davis transit corridor

by Melinda Williams

May 25, 2010 | 347 views | 1  | 5  |  | 

CENTERVILLE — Public outcry over the proposed south Davis transit corridor has caused the Utah Transit Authority to go back to the drawing board and rethink its plans.

The agency’s goal however, remains to improve mass transit in the community through 2030.

UTA spokesman Gerry Carpenter said after the draft Environmental Impact Statement was released, UTA received some 2,000 comments, most of which were in opposition to the plan which would run a streetcar from 200 South in Salt Lake City, along U.S. 89, State road 106 and then along Main Street to Parrish Lane in Farmington. From there, enhanced bus service would carry riders into Farmington.

Because of the overwhelming response, the agency extended the comment period by two weeks.

“In this case, we received a much greater volume of comment than we typically do,” Carpenter said, and those comments showed the planned alignment to be very controversial, especially through Centerville,” he said.

UTA is now in the process of going through each comment. Once the comments have been read, they will be posted on the agency’s website. That may not be for a month or two, Carpenter said. The agency plans on responding to the comments, a time consuming process.

After analyzing the comments, an evaluation is planned to look at different alignments, perhaps along 200 West or 500 West, or a different combination of modes of transportation, Carpenter said.

Carpenter said despite the poor reception the plan received, the work done on the draft EIS was not wasted. “It was an important step in the process. There was a lot of good interaction,” that came out of the public hearings held on the plan. “It’s important to understand that unless we give them something to respond to, they can’t respond,” he said.

At public hearings held in Centerville and Bountiful in March, residents were adamant they didn’t want a streetcar system built down Main Street. Residents said they believe the system would wreck the quality of life, cost too much and create safety issues for residents whose homes and businesses front Main Street.

They also took issue with a UTA study which indicated by 2030, some 14,700 riders would use the line daily.

Even though UTA is re-evaluating its plans, “In a lot of ways things haven’t changed,” Carpenter said. “There is still no clear funding source,” for either the re-evaluation or a transit system when plans are finalized. UTA is currently working on getting funding for the evaluation process.

Carpenter said UTA wants to work with the community in coming up with a viable transit plan.

mwilliams@davisclipper.com

While We Wait

I thought I would inform you of a couple of developements regarding Centerville's Main Street plan. Recently, the Centerville Council and Planning Commission met in a work session. Mayor Russell expressed a desire to reconstitute the orginial Main Street Committee to "clean up" some of the language regarding transit. I think that they realize that Centerville's current plan was extremely rail transit friendly.

The Mayor also encouraged the formation of a committee to look at their own bus routes and schedules and make appropriate recommendations to the UTA. Also, it is my understanding that Centerville is pursuing the concept of a FrontRunner stop in Centerville.

Enjoy the wonderful spring weather.