Sandy begins public push for proposed $21 million Crescent View bond ahead of council vote

SANDY — Sandy residents are getting an early look at a proposal that could appear on November’s ballot after the city sent an AlertSense notification Wednesday directing residents to new informational videos about a proposed $21 million bond to purchase the former Crescent View Middle School property.

The proposal would allow the city to purchase the 17-acre property from the Canyons School District for $17 million. The remaining bond funds would be used for repairs and improvements to make the site safe and usable for future community purposes.

If voters approve the bond, Sandy estimates the owner of a home at the city’s average assessed value of $790,000 would pay about $3.50 more per month in property taxes, or roughly $42 per year.

The City Council is expected to vote next week on whether to place the bond measure on the November ballot.

Mayor calls property a ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity

In a video released Wednesday, Mayor Monica Zoltanski called the former school property one of the last large parcels of its kind remaining in Sandy and said the city could lose the opportunity if it does not act.

She said developers have competing offers on the property and argued preserving the land now would allow residents to decide later how it should be used.

“I want to be completely transparent,” Zoltanski said. “If passed, a voter-approved bond would increase property taxes. It is a tax increase.”

The mayor said the city’s proposal separates the purchase of the property from deciding its long-term use.

According to Zoltanski, buying the property would preserve the opportunity for the community while allowing a second public process, including open houses, surveys and community meetings, to determine what programs, amenities and partners ultimately occupy the site.

She said potential uses could include recreation, arts, youth sports, cultural activities and civic programming.

City explains costs and future operations

In a separate informational video, Sandy City Council members outlined additional financial details surrounding the proposal.

Council members said three appraisals have been completed on the property as part of the evaluation process.

According to the city:

• A city-commissioned appraisal valued the property at $8.5 million.
• A Canyons School District appraisal valued it at $17.1 million.
• A jointly commissioned appraisal valued it at $10 million.

Council members also said purchasing the property is only part of the financial picture.

If the city keeps and operates the building as a public facility, officials estimate ongoing operating costs would total at least $465,000 annually, a new recurring expense not currently included in the city’s budget.

City leaders said future funding options could include reallocating existing resources, revenue growth or additional property tax considerations.

How would the property differ from Sandy’s Recreation Center?

One question city leaders said residents have repeatedly asked is how a future Crescent View community facility would differ from the city’s Recreation Center.

According to the council, the Recreation Center is primarily focused on active fitness and sports, while a future community center at Crescent View could emphasize arts programming, cultural events, civic meetings and expanded park space.

Officials emphasized that no final decision has been made on exactly how the property would be used if purchased.

Instead, they said that discussion would happen only after the property is acquired and would involve additional public input from residents.

What happens next?

The Sandy City Council is expected to decide next week whether to place the proposed bond on the November general election ballot.

If the council approves the measure, Sandy voters would have the final say on whether the city can issue the $21 million bond to purchase the property.