Update: June 9, 2026: City Council member Wayne Pennington provided a more recent plan (download) than was proposed in the presentation from last year that I initially posted.
At our City Council meeting last Thursday, we agreed to place a discussion item on the June 18 Council agenda regarding the proposed development being planned by the Shivwits Band of Paiutes and Reef Capital on reservation land immediately west of Ivins.
Since the project was first discussed publicly, the proposal appears to have evolved. Based on information recently approved by the Shivwits Band Council, some elements appear less intensive than earlier concepts, while others appear more intensive.
For example, the current materials do not include a hotel component and identify areas that would remain undisturbed. At the same time, the sports-tourism components appear more extensive and include numerous soccer and baseball fields, indoor sports facilities, event venues, team cabins, and related infrastructure.
The materials also identify a potential future airport area that would require separate approval. But Wayne notes that the most recent take on this is that it probably won’t happen. If it did happen, it would be on the road to Bulldog Pass, where the Apex mine blue building is.
These changes are one reason I believe it is important for the City to begin discussing what impacts, if any, the project may have on Ivins.
To be clear, this property is located on tribal land. The Shivwits Band is a sovereign nation, and Ivins does not have authority over development decisions on the reservation.
However, Ivins does have an interest in understanding, and preparing for potential off-reservation impacts that could affect our residents. These include:
- Traffic impacts on Highway 91
- Public safety coordination and emergency response
- Infrastructure and service impacts
- Long-term planning implications for Ivins
This is not a public hearing and the City will not take any action on the project itself. The purpose of the discussion is simply to begin understanding what potential impacts may exist and what the City needs to do to address them.
Residents are welcome to attend the meeting and listen to the discussion. As always, I also welcome emails (Mike@MikeScott4Ivins.com) from anyone who would like to share thoughts, concerns, questions, or information regarding the project.
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