CENTERVILLE — By Christmas of 2010, residents of Centerville and the surrounding area could be spending part of their holiday leisure time watching movies at a new theater, here.

While nothing is signed or sealed, plans are in the works to develop a 14-screen movie theater in partnership with the Larry H. Miller group. They’ve built such theater complexes as Jordan Commons Megaplex Theaters in Salt Lake County.

In addition, 252 apartments could be built as part of the project, plus some retail area, on about 28 acres on the southeast corner of 1250 West and Parrish Lane.

“The most exciting thing is the Megaplex theater,” said Mayor Ron Russell Tuesday. “As we were looking at planning on the west side, we always expected there would be some kind of retail on that south side of Parrish Lane, just west of I-15,” he said.

“It will be an entertainment component that is currently missing in South Davis,” the mayor said.

He called the apartments “probably the most controversial part of the development. Apartments are always controversial, people are always concerned.”

But plans call for “upscale” multi-family units three stories high on 10 acres. They would contain 24 apartments per building, plus one building of 12 units, explained City Community & Economic Development Director Cory Snyder.

Conceptual approval has been granted to U.S. Development of Layton, including “some amendments to the city’s general plan and zoning ordinance to open the door for commercial planned development,” he said.

The project also would include an entertainment facility, possibly a Fat Cats that would use 60,000 square feet of an 80,000 to 85,000 square-foot family entertainment center. Fat Cats typically include a bowling alley, arcade, and often have an in-facility restaurant. In addition, retail pads would be included.

Most of the project would be commercial, plus a couple of pieces in the southeast quadrant which would be industrial, Snyder said.

“The door is open to proceed through a planned development overlay, the planning commission and city council process that will basically take the existing commercial area zoning and put an overlay over the top,” he said.

The planning commission has adopted the conceptual plan and has given a “number of directives,” with a traffic study being completed, along with an economic needs analysis, plus buffering.

“It will take on the feel of the Legacy Parkway,” Snyder said, including possible incorporation of “Centerville rock” in some of the exterior construction.

“It will certainly create a new complex, a new neighborhood for our west side,” he said.

Russell said the apartment dwellers would be conveniently located close to several transportation options, including the Legacy Highway and I-15.

“This provides an additional housing choice, an opportunity for those who want to live in an apartment, like my kids,” the mayor said.

Having apartments near the theaters also provides a ready audience to help fill theater seats, he said.

“From a development standpoint, they’re still putting their project together,” Russell said of the developer. “It’s not a done deal from the development side. There are some things they need to accomplish in terms of financing. There are still some questions that need to be answered in terms of impact and infrastructure.”

Adding a facility of that size must include looking at the city’s water capacity, for example, he added.

“The mayor and residents of West Bountiful have expressed concern about traffic impacts. That will have to be studied. Just providing infrastructure will be an important question,” Russell said.

“I can see as that property develops, it means adjacent properties will be next. It’s exciting to see that kind of a development with a theater complex – not only for our community but all of South Davis. It’s an opportunity to keep our entertainment, sales taxes in Davis County,” he added.

Developers did not respond to repeated calls or e-mails seeking comment.



tbusselberg@davisclipper.com