Council holds hearings on five rezones, including 900 South and Lincoln Street, and defers all action to March 16
March 2, 2021, 7:00 p.m. · Electronic meeting (no physical anchor location)
Council Member Andrew Johnston presided in Council Member Amy Fowler's absence as the council heard public comment on an alley closure and four rezone requests, then voted 6-0 on each to close the hearing and defer action. Speakers largely supported the 900 South and State Street projects, with the neighboring Summum church raising height and noise concerns, while most speakers on the Lincoln Street rezone opposed it. The council also voted 6-0 to keep meeting remotely.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Ordinance: West End alley vacation, 740 and 746 West 900 South | Continued · 6-0 |
| Ordinance: rezone at 706 to 740 West 900 South and 710 to 739 West Genesee Avenue | Continued · 6-0 |
| Ordinance: zoning amendments at 2903 South Highland Drive | Continued · 6-0 |
| Ordinance: rezone at 1301 and 1321 South State Street | Continued · 6-0 |
| Ordinance: zoning amendments at Lincoln Street and 200 South | Continued · 6-0 |
| Motion: continue meeting remotely without an anchor location | Approved · 6-0 |
| Consent: set RMF-30 hearing and appoint Library Board member | Approved · 6-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item B1 · Development
Ordinance: West End alley vacation, 740 and 746 West 900 South
Continued · 6-0
Staff presented a petition to close a small part of a city-owned alley so the petitioner can square off a property corner for a future multi-family and commercial development. One speaker worried about alley access and traffic; a Planning Commission member and two others supported it, saying it would let the area be improved. The council closed the hearing and deferred action.
- Petition: PLNPCM2020-00268
Item B2 · Zoning
Ordinance: rezone at 706 to 740 West 900 South and 710 to 739 West Genesee Avenue
Continued · 6-0
The ordinance would rezone the site, including parts of two alleys, from M-1 to R-MU for multi-family housing and renovation of two vacant commercial buildings. Many speakers supported the redevelopment, citing new life for the west side, trails, commercial space and community outreach by the applicant and the Poplar Grove Community Council voiced support with interest in affordability. Representatives of the neighboring Summum church opposed the R-MU zoning because of building height, shade, noise, parking and effects on religious practice, and asked that it be limited to RMU-35. Others asked about height rules and east-west travel through the site, and one speaker raised shadow impacts on neighbors. The council closed the hearing and deferred action.
- Applicant: the applicant
- Current zone to proposed: M-1 to R-MU
- Petitions: PLNPCM2019-01137 and PLN2020-00442
Item B3 · Zoning
Ordinance: zoning amendments at 2903 South Highland Drive
Continued · 6-0
Staff outlined a request to change the eastern part of a split-zoned property from Low Density Residential to Low Intensity Mixed Use in the Sugar House Master Plan and from R-1-7000 to CB zoning to match the western part. A Planning Commission member spoke in favor. The council closed the hearing and deferred action.
- Petition: PLNPCM2020-00053/00054
- Current zone to proposed: R-1-7000 to CB (eastern portion)
Item B4 · Zoning
Ordinance: rezone at 1301 and 1321 South State Street
Continued · 6-0
The request would rezone two parcels from CC to FB-UN2 and add land area eligible for additional height, for a possible mixed-use building. All four speakers supported it, saying it would add high-density housing along a key corridor; one said development agreements may be unenforceable and the city should require an ordinance, and another urged allowing even taller buildings. The council closed the hearing and deferred action.
- Petition: PLNPCM2020-00328
- Current zone to proposed: CC to FB-UN2
Item B5 · Zoning
Ordinance: zoning amendments at Lincoln Street and 200 South
Continued · 6-0
The request would rezone properties from R-2 to RMF-35 and change the master plan from Low to Medium Density Residential; the Planning Commission forwarded a negative recommendation. Roughly two dozen speakers addressed it, nearly all opposed. Their reasons included protecting a historic neighborhood and its existing, lower-cost housing, inconsistency with the master plan, parking and traffic, possible demolition and displacement of tenants, and a belief that it would raise housing costs; the East Central Community Council chair and Preservation Utah also opposed. One speaker favored it, citing more housing, green space and family-oriented units. The council closed the hearing and deferred action.
- Petitions: PLNPCM2019-00683 and PLNPCM2019-00684
- Current zone to proposed: R-2 to RMF-35
- Planning Commission recommendation: negative
Item E1 · Other
Motion: continue meeting remotely without an anchor location
Approved · 6-0
The council ratified the determination to keep meeting remotely without an anchor location under HB5002.
Item G1-G2 · City code
Consent: set RMF-30 hearing and appoint Library Board member
Approved · 6-0
The consent agenda set a March 16 hearing on text amendments to the RMF-30 district (Petition PLNPCM2019-00313) and approved David Wirthlin's appointment to the Library Board for a term ending June 30, 2024. The RMF-30 changes would add design standards, allow cottage and tiny house developments, reduce minimum lot areas, drop minimum lot widths, allow more than one primary structure per lot and add a density bonus for keeping an existing structure.
What residents said
Building height next to Summum churchHistoric character and displacement at Lincoln StreetHousing affordabilityHomeless camp abatements
Hearing comments are summarized in the items above. In general comments, speakers raised the RMF-30 rezoning and displacement, rising housing costs and high-density development, homeless camp abatements and a proposed tiny house community, off-leash dogs in parks, historic district demolition loopholes, and the treatment of the Summum church in the neighboring rezone.