SANTA CLARA — After moves by the Santa Clara City Council last Wednesday night, residents will be seeing some immediate – and not so immediate – changes to Santa Clara Drive.
The most immediate change will come as early as this week as city construction workers move in to replace waterlines on Santa Clara Drive from the corner of Canyon View Drive, where Dutchman’s Market is, to Santa Clara Parkway.
The other will be the conversion of a residence at 3086 Santa Clara Drive from a residence into a business.
Both came about with unanimous votes by the council, with two members absent, at its Nov. 9 meeting at Santa Clara Town Hall.
Expect street work near Dutchman’s
The council unanimously approved a request by the city’s public works department to replace the aging underground water pipe on Santa Clara Drive and one other location with newer, more durable piping. The $131,153 project was already in the city’s budget.
This will mean construction work on the westbound side from Santa Clara Drive from where Dutchman’s is for about a block and require some traffic control. And Public Works Director Dustin Mouritsen said with bids in place, work can start as early as this week.
In response to a question from council member Christa Hinton about the differences between the lines, Mouritsen said “we’re putting in the most modern line possible.”
The C900 piping that will replace the Class 200 PVC pipe is capable of handling nearly four times the water pressure.
As part of the approval, Turman Drive in The Heights development from Gubler Drive to the end cul-de-sac will also have its water piping replaced in the coming weeks.
“This is an area we missed when we did The Heights,” Mouritsen said. “We just couldn’t afford it.
Downtown drive getting another business sign
In a 3-0 vote, the council approved allowing the owners of a home to convert it into a business. The home, located near the post office and a block from Frei’s Fruit Market, will become an interior design studio called Swoon.
Mayor Rick Rosenberg initially had concerns by a rendering that appeared to have Swoon’s sign overhanging the sidewalk, but Planning Manager Jim McNulty said it would not be. With that, the mayor was willing to have Swoon join other historic homes along the drive that have been converted into businesses.
“This will be a great addition to the downtown,” Rosenberg said.
The home, built in 1936 according to the city, will have some trim painted a shade of blue but otherwise maintain much of the historic character. Four parking spaces will be added, as well as ramps and other additions to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.