The proposed Uintah Apartments project, slated to comprise 56 units on a 2.27-acre site near 19th and Uintah streets, has been withdrawn following opposition from neighbors and a recommendation for denial from city planning staff.
Scott Hiller, a resident adjacent to the proposed project site and a candidate for an unexpired term on City Council representing District 3, expressed approval of the decision, stating that the city made the right call. He credited both the city planners for their stance against the project and the neighbors for presenting compelling arguments based on thorough research and analysis.
Concerns over density and traffic were initially raised by area residents in August, prompting attention to the project.
City planners delivered a setback to the developer, René Mondejar III, in late February, highlighting inadequacies in the justification for the zone change and density proposed. Despite a revised submission addressing some concerns, city staff determined that the proposal was inconsistent with the recommendations outlined in the Westside Plan, a document adopted by ordinance. Consequently, the planning staff did not support the application in its current form.
Subsequently, on March 3, neighbors were informed via email that the project, including the zone change and concept plan, had been withdrawn by the applicant. A neighborhood meeting scheduled for that day was canceled as a result.
The withdrawal of the Uintah Apartments project represents a victory for concerned residents and underscores the importance of community engagement in shaping development decisions.