Council Meeting Review: Passionate Neighbors, Big Questions on Housing

Photo from: https://westjordanelementary.jordandistrict.org/

The September 9 West Jordan City Council meeting was packed—more people than I’ve ever seen at a council meeting!

We kicked things off by recognizing the Salt Lake Community College Baseball team for winning the Junior College World Championship. Go Bruins!

Neighbors Speak Out

Most attendees came to talk about the future of the old West Jordan Elementary School site, with news that the land was recently acquired by Ivory Homes and slated for new housing development.

It was powerful to see a neighborhood united. As a mom, I understand the deep connection to a school where your children grew up. Residents spoke with passion about preserving the culture of their community.

The Bigger Picture

This debate mirrors what we’re seeing across West Jordan. We’re growing fast. Utah faces a housing shortage, and affordability is top of mind for voters—I heard that loud and clear during the primary.

Over the past month, I’ve met with players in housing accessibility and development in West Jordan—Garbett, Boyer, Ivory, Gardner, Peterson, and the Salt Lake County Board of Realtors. My goal: to listen, understand their vision, and advocate for housing affordability in our city.

The happy fact is that developers aren’t villains. They want to build quality neighborhoods, too. And development isn’t something we can stop—it’s something we need to shape. On the council, I will focus on ensuring that shaping is in the best interest of our city.

Council’s Role

As Councilwoman Whitelock explained, the rezoning “land swap” isn’t up to the council.

This was handled by the School Board, who were within their rights to broker the exchange. The council only weighs in once a specific plan comes forward, with suggestions for improvements to the developer's plan. Since they had not seen a plan from Ivory Homes yet, they had nothing yet to respond to.

Why Advocacy Matters

I hope residents didn’t leave discouraged. Their voices matter. They gave the council a clear picture of what this land means to the community.

I expect Ivory Homes heard the message: green space, trails, and a nod to the beloved school must be part of the plan.

And any future residents will be lucky to join such a passionate, engaged neighborhood.