A new housing development that would create 2,000 residences is working towards approval in Wasatch County.
Benloch Ranch is a compilation of land that makes up the former Talisman development, Highlands at Jordenelle and a part of Jackson Fork. The 2,300-acre property is near where the Provo River feeds into Jordanelle. The property is owned by Jamie Mackay a real estate developer from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Mackay is also the founder and CEO of Wheelhaus. Wheelhaus makes high-end modular homes ranging from $80,000 to just under $400,000. Mackay explained to the Wasatch County Council that the proposed development would not use Wheelhaus’s modular homes
“We’re booked out for three years, we can’t build these. This is a totally different product type. This is not a tiny home development, it’s not a mobile home park at all, nothing of the kind.”
Mackay said he wrote a letter to Wasatch County Planning Director Doug Smith saying they would comply to all building codes.
“Everything’s going to be stick-built to the building code.” Mackay explained “This is such a large property there’s going to be chunks sold to developers. (…) This is a massive project and it’s going to take some time to sell. We’re going to have builders (…) that are very interested to buy blocks of homes that are going to build their own homes.”
The lots are targeted to be smaller structures. Anywhere from 2,000 to 6,000 square feet max. Amy Nisson a realtor with Keller Williams says the hope is to give buyers a cabin feel at a friendlier price point.
“We’re finding that the buyer is moving away from these bigger 12,000 square foot houses and they’re moving away from condo product. They want a smaller product that is at a smaller price point than what we’re seeing in Promontory and Victory Ranch.” Nisson explained, “Something that’s under 2,000 square feet, you might get a Wasatch Front buyer who just wants that Park City cabin again, that’s just not affordable on the market anymore. I think that’s where the developer wants to see this go in some areas. And in some areas (…) getting those price points up to a million dollars. But it would be nice to see a product that’s under $500,000 with high-quality finishes.”
The project will soon be presented to a Development Review Committee, if approved it would move forward to the Planning Commission and then the Wasatch County Council.
