Council approves East Bueno Avenue rooming house rezone with conditions and adopts Budget Amendment No. 4
December 14, 2021, 7:00 p.m.
The council voted 6-0 to rezone East Bueno Avenue parcels for a 65-unit rooming house on the condition that rentals under 30 days be barred and building materials salvaged. It also adopted Budget Amendment No. 4, rezoned property at Redwood Road and Indiana Avenue, allowed rooftop commercial uses in the FB-SE zone, adopted a street lighting master plan and extended the COVID-19 emergency to March 25, 2022. Council Member Ana Valdemoros was absent. The council also recognized outgoing members James Rogers and Dennis Faris and Chair Amy Fowler.
From the draft minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Master plan amendment and rezone, East Bueno Avenue and 700 East | Approved with conditions · 6-0 |
| Rezone at Redwood Road and Indiana Avenue | Approved · 6-0 |
| Rooftop commercial uses above two stories in the FB-SE zone | Approved · 6-0 |
| Budget Amendment No. 4, fiscal 2021-22 | Approved · 6-0 |
| 2020 Street Lighting Master Plan | Approved with conditions · 6-0 |
| Extension of the COVID-19 local emergency declaration | Approved · 6-0 |
| Consent agenda: board appointments and Budget Amendment No. 5 hearing date | Approved · 6-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item C.1 · Zoning
Master plan amendment and rezone, East Bueno Avenue and 700 East
Approved with conditions · 6-0
The council adopted Ordinance 74, rezoning seven East Bueno Avenue parcels from SR-3 to RMF-45 and amending the Central Community Master Plan for a planned 65-unit rooming house. The approval requires the owner to record a restrictive covenant barring rentals shorter than 30 days and to make best efforts to salvage and reuse or donate materials from the existing dwellings. The motion also directed staff to draft a legislative intent on protecting or replacing existing affordable housing when considering discretionary zoning, preserving housing stock and mitigating loss of naturally occurring affordable housing. Council Member Chris Wharton said the rezone was only a beginning toward the council's affordable housing goals. The council recessed for 20 minutes after unrest in the hallway among attendees over affordable housing measures.
- Ordinance 74 of 2021
- Petitions: PLNPCM2021-00047 and -00048
- Units: 65
- Conditions: recorded covenant barring rentals under 30 days; best efforts to salvage building materials
Item C.2 · Zoning
Rezone at Redwood Road and Indiana Avenue
Approved · 6-0
The council adopted Ordinance 75 rezoning about 835 South Redwood Road and 1668 West Indiana Avenue from R-1/5,000 single-family to R-MU-45 Residential/Mixed Use. No development plan has been submitted; the change follows the Westside Master Plan's planned community node.
- Ordinance 75 of 2021
- Petition: PLNPCM2021-00249
Item C.3 · City code
Rooftop commercial uses above two stories in the FB-SE zone
Approved · 6-0
The council adopted Ordinance 76 amending section 21A.27.040 to allow commercial uses on rooftops above the second story in the FB-SE zone, subject to a 30-foot height, on properties citywide.
- Ordinance 76 of 2021
- Petition: PLNPCM2021-00431
Item C.4 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 4, fiscal 2021-22
Approved · 6-0
The council adopted Ordinance 77, which amends the fiscal 2021-22 budget for a list of items: insurance costs, an air quality lawnmower exchange, COVID-safe building improvements, a Sugar House special assessment area analysis, a park ranger pilot program, Community Commitment Program rapid intervention team funding and police support, $2 million toward the new water reclamation facility pump station, $400,000 for winter shelter public safety support and a $4 million Westside perpetual housing fund. The Sugar House analysis is to consider shrinking the boundaries to remove residential areas and reimbursing the general fund for start-up costs, and both options will return to the council. The motion notes the council's earlier unanimous straw poll that the remaining $600,000 be considered for community activities and possible business assistance near the temporary winter overflow shelter, to be authorized in a future budget opening.
- Budget$423,708
- Budget$250,000
- Budget$844,000
- Budget$60,000
- Budget$1.58 million
- Budget$1.06 million
- Budget$164,750
- Budget$2.00 million
- Budget$400,000
- Budget$443,677
- Budget$69,244
- Budget$160,500
- Budget$1.51 million
- Budget$57,000
- Budget$4.00 million
- Ordinance 77 of 2021
Item C.5 · General plan
2020 Street Lighting Master Plan
Approved with conditions · 6-0
The council adopted Ordinance 78, the 2020 Street Lighting Master Plan, which changes how the city chooses lighting based on pedestrian activity and transportation needs and sets new standards for retrofits and new construction. The motion asks the department to keep evaluating wireless cell facilities on city light poles and to attach its statement of intent on dark skies values to the final plan.
- Ordinance 78 of 2021
Item E.1 · Other
Extension of the COVID-19 local emergency declaration
Approved · 6-0
The council adopted Resolution 51 extending the mayor's emergency Proclamation B of 2021 (and with it the K-12 school mask order) until March 25, 2022, unless extended or ended earlier.
- Resolution 51 of 2021
Item G · Appointment
Consent agenda: board appointments and Budget Amendment No. 5 hearing date
Approved · 6-0
The council appointed Michael Mejia to the Art Design Advisory Board (term ending December 14, 2024) and Andy Robertson to the Business Advisory Board (term ending December 29, 2025), and set a January 4, 2022 hearing on Budget Amendment No. 5, which includes funding for low-income senior and veteran transitional housing and public safety overtime in neighborhoods with homeless shelters.
What residents said
Affordable housing and displacement on East Bueno AvenueStreet lighting and dark skiesBicycle plan
Two speakers opposed the Bueno Avenue rezone. One supported the Street Lighting Master Plan and opposed the bicycle plan. One thanked retiring members and staff for their service. Written comments were submitted during the meeting.