Council approves State Street and Highland Drive rezones and alley closure, rejects Lincoln Street rezone, defers 900 South
March 16, 2021, 7:00 p.m. · Electronic meeting (no physical anchor location)
The council adopted the 900 South alley closure, the 2903 South Highland Drive zoning amendments and the 1301 and 1321 South State Street rezone, each 7-0, and voted 7-0 to reject the Lincoln Street and 200 South rezone petition. It deferred action on the 900 South and Genesee Avenue rezone, and held hearings on the parking ordinance, RMF-30 amendments, a library budget amendment and three grant applications. The council also remembered former Council Member Roslyn Kirk.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Public hearing: three grant applications | Continued · 7-0 |
| Ordinance: Library Budget Amendment No. 1, fiscal year 2020-21 | Continued · 7-0 |
| Ordinance: off-street parking zoning text amendments | Continued · 7-0 |
| Ordinance: RMF-30 zoning district text amendments | Tabled · 7-0 |
| Ordinance: West End alley vacation, 740 and 746 West 900 South | Approved · 7-0 |
| Ordinance: rezone at 706 to 740 West 900 South and 710 to 739 West Genesee Avenue | Continued · 7-0 |
| Ordinance: zoning amendments at 2903 South Highland Drive | Approved · 7-0 |
| Ordinance: rezone at 1301 and 1321 South State Street | Approved · 7-0 |
| Zoning amendments at Lincoln Street and 200 South | Denied · 7-0 |
| Consent: set April 6 hearings on Budget Amendment No. 7 and the FY2021-22 action plan | Approved · 7-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item B1-B3 · Other
Public hearing: three grant applications
Continued · 7-0
The council heard a combined hearing on a Transportation Division grant for an East Downtown 200 South transit hub (about $400,000 according to one speaker), a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant for eight extrication tools and eight battery-powered ventilation fans, and a Justice Court grant for an online platform for initial steps in class B and C misdemeanor and infraction cases. One speaker opposed the transit hub, saying the money would be better spent on $1 fares. The council closed the hearing and referred the items to a future consent agenda.
- GrantAmount not given to Wasatch Front Regional Council
- GrantAmount not given to Federal Emergency Management Agency
- GrantAmount not given to National Center for State Courts
Item B4 · Budget
Ordinance: Library Budget Amendment No. 1, fiscal year 2020-21
Continued · 7-0
Senior Advisor Russell Weeks presented the amendment, which funds completion of the Library's Master Facilities Plan, a digital access grant, earthquake repairs to the Main Library and Sprague Branch renovations. There was no public comment, and the council closed the hearing and deferred action.
Item B5 · City code
Ordinance: off-street parking zoning text amendments
Continued · 7-0
The ordinance would update parking requirements, simplify regulations and fix enforcement issues. Supporters praised added bike parking, simpler rules and lower parking costs that indirectly burden lower-income residents. Critics said it would worsen parking, did not do enough on long-term transportation alternatives or accessibility, or was not ready, and asked that the parking study be presented first. The council closed the hearing and deferred action.
- Petition: PLNPCM2017-00753
Item B6 · City code
Ordinance: RMF-30 zoning district text amendments
Tabled · 7-0
About two dozen speakers addressed the proposal. Most opposed it or asked that it include affordable housing and inclusionary zoning, citing displacement of west side residents, rising rents and a possible incentive to demolish older homes; a few supported land use reform and different housing types, and one favored approval with inclusionary zoning added. Council Member Amy Fowler moved to close the hearing and defer action until related measures such as the Affordable Housing Overlay or the Residential Housing Loss Mitigation Plan come to the council. Council Member Andrew Johnston agreed, saying the housing mitigation ordinance, overlay, displacement efforts, the ADU incentive and inclusionary zoning should be part of the text amendment. Council Member Darin Mano supported tying the amendment to affordable housing, raised concern about demolition on single-family parcels and urged the administration to finish the ordinance quickly.
- Petition: PLNPCM2019-00313
Item C1 · Development
Ordinance: West End alley vacation, 740 and 746 West 900 South
Approved · 7-0
The council adopted Ordinance 3 of 2021 closing a small portion of a city-owned alley so the petitioner can square off a property corner for a future multi-family and commercial development.
- Petition: PLNPCM2020-00268
Item C2 · Zoning
Ordinance: rezone at 706 to 740 West 900 South and 710 to 739 West Genesee Avenue
Continued · 7-0
The council voted to defer action on the M-1 to R-MU rezone to a future meeting.
Item C3 · Zoning
Ordinance: zoning amendments at 2903 South Highland Drive
Approved · 7-0
The council adopted Ordinance 4 of 2021, changing the eastern part of the 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.
- Petition: PLNPCM2020-00053/00054
- Current zone to proposed: R-1-7000 to CB (eastern portion)
Item C4 · Zoning
Ordinance: rezone at 1301 and 1321 South State Street
Approved · 7-0
The council adopted Ordinance 5 of 2021, rezoning two parcels from CC (Corridor Commercial) to FB-UN2 and adding land area eligible for additional building height.
- Petition: PLNPCM2020-00328
- Current zone to proposed: CC to FB-UN2
Item C5 · Zoning
Zoning amendments at Lincoln Street and 200 South
Denied · 7-0
Following the Planning Commission's negative recommendation, no ordinance had been drafted. The council voted to reject the petition to rezone the properties from R-2 to RMF-35 and amend the master plan.
- Petitions: PLNPCM2019-00683 and PLNPCM2019-00684
Item G1-G2 · Budget
Consent: set April 6 hearings on Budget Amendment No. 7 and the FY2021-22 action plan
Approved · 7-0
The consent agenda set an April 6 hearing on Budget Amendment No. 7, which includes $6 million from the U.S. Treasury for rental assistance, funding for the November 2021 National League of Cities Conference, an outdoor business assistance pilot and a Police Department needs assessment. It also set an April 6 hearing on the one-year action plan for CDBG, HOME, ESG and HOPWA funds for fiscal year 2021-22 and an interlocal agreement with HUD.
- Grant$6.00 million to U.S. Department of the Treasury
What residents said
Affordable housing in RMF-30 amendmentsDisplacementSummum church and neighboring rezoneParking reductionsHomeless camp abatements
Hearing comments are summarized above. In general comments, speakers asked for affordable housing funding, said representatives of the Summum church felt the developer and community council had not worked with them on the neighboring rezone (while a community member described outreach to church owners), criticized developer practices, raised the process for the Kozo apartments, asked about the parking study and public notification, and urged action on rental assistance, homeless camp abatements, land use reform and police funding. The mayor said the administration would keep affordable housing a priority.