Council adopts Thriving in Place plan, Budget Amendment No. 2 and M-1 height change; defers affordable housing incentives
October 17, 2023, 7:00 p.m.
The Council adopted the Thriving in Place anti-displacement plan with a request for urgent action on six priorities, passed Budget Amendment No. 2 and a height amendment for bulk storage in the M-1 district, all 7-0. It held a hearing with 12 speakers on the affordable housing incentives ordinance and deferred action, and also deferred two alley vacations and a 900 South rezone.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item B1 · Public hearing
Grant application: Cottonwoods Connection Project funding
Continued · 7-0
The Council held a hearing on an application from Public Utilities to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a pipeline to divert Big Cottonwood Creek water to the Little Cottonwood Treatment Plant during a three- to four-year rebuild of the Big Cottonwood Treatment Plant. There was no public comment; the item was referred to a future consent agenda.
- GrantAmount not given to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Item B2 · Public hearing
Grant application: Marcus to Artesian Basin project funding
Continued · 7-0
The Council held a hearing on an EPA grant application from Public Utilities to replace a pipeline that carries water to the largest pressure zone in the system, serving parts of Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, Midvale, Millcreek, Murray and South Salt Lake as well as Salt Lake City. There was no public comment; it was referred to a future consent agenda.
- GrantAmount not given to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Item B3 · Development
Alley vacation near 2167 South 800 East (Wilmington Avenue)
Continued · 7-0
The Council held a hearing on vacating part of a city-owned alley next to several properties on Wilmington Avenue in District 7. Speakers supported the proposal; two adjoining property owners described the condition of the alley and numerous complaints for lack of enforcement as reasons to vacate. The hearing was closed and action deferred.
- Petition: PLNPCM2022-00802
- Council District 7
Item B4 · Development
Alley vacation near Wilmington and Elm avenues
Continued · 7-0
The Council held a hearing, together with B3, on vacating a section of alley between Wilmington and Elm avenues; if approved, it would be divided among the abutting owners. The hearing was closed and action deferred.
- Petition: PLNPCM2023-00225
Item B5 · Zoning
Zoning map amendment at 1018 East 900 South
Continued · 7-0
The Council held a hearing on rezoning the property from RMF-35 to RMF-30 to give the owner more flexibility in housing types if redeveloped; no development plans were submitted. There was no public comment, and action was deferred.
- Current zone → proposed: RMF-35 → RMF-30
- Petition: PLNPCM2022-01120
- Council District 5
Item B6 · City code
Text amendment on maximum height in the M-1 Light Manufacturing District (Ordinance 54 of 2023)
Approved · 7-0
After a hearing with no public comment, the Council adopted the amendment allowing bulk material storage structures up to 150 feet west of 5600 West, 100 to 1,000 feet south of I-80. The petitioner was the Salt Lake Garfield and Western Railway Company.
- Petition: PLNPCM2023-00282
Item B7 · City code
Affordable housing incentives ordinance
Continued · 7-0
The Council heard 12 speakers on the citywide ordinance creating zoning incentives for affordable housing. Speakers who opposed or questioned it said density does not equal affordability, expressed concern about changes to single-family zones, demolitions, parking, effects on historic districts and neighborhood notice, and called for enforcement; the East Bench Community Council supported only duplexes, twin homes and some detached accessory units. Others described a need for more affordable housing and expressed cautious optimism about anti-displacement work on the west side. The Council closed the hearing and deferred action.
- Petition: PLNPCM2019-00658
Item C1 · Zoning
Rezone and master plan amendment at approximately 1435 South State Street
Pending
The item was pulled from the agenda and rescheduled for a future meeting.
Item C2 · General plan
Thriving in Place anti-gentrification and anti-displacement plan (Ordinance 55 of 2023)
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted the plan as part of the general plan and asked the administration to address six items with special urgency: a tenant relocation assistance program, expanded tenant resources, acquiring and rehabilitating unsubsidized housing, use of publicly owned property, new funding sources, and displacement indicators and data systems. The administration must give updated milestone timing by Dec. 1, 2023.
Item C3 · Budget
Fiscal year 2024 compensation plan clarification for non-represented employees (Ordinance 56 of 2023)
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted corrections to the plan adopted June 13, 2023: rounding errors in annualized pay rates, retirement system contribution rates set after adoption, and pay grades for appointed Justice Court employees.
Item C4 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 2 for fiscal year 2023-24 (Ordinance 57 of 2023)
Approved · 7-0
The Council adopted the amendment only for items shown on the motion sheet. It includes $24.8 million from the first issuance of the Parks, Trails and Open Space bond, a new Public Lands Planning and Design Division, $2 million in U.S. Treasury emergency rental assistance and a position to help create special assessment areas.
- Bond$24.8 million
Item F1 · General plan
Certification of the Downtown Plan as station area plan
Pending
Pulled from the agenda and rescheduled for a future meeting.
Item F2 · City code
Justice Court as a third branch of government (Ordinance 58 of 2023)
Approved · 7-0
The Council amended city code chapters 2.02 and 2.84 to establish the Justice Court as an independent branch, following a May 2023 state law requiring that justice courts not be part of a city's executive or legislative branch.
Item G1-G17 · Other
Consent agenda: hearing dates, grants and board appointments
Approved · 7-0
The Council approved the consent agenda in one vote. It set Nov. 7 hearings on the Goltz Avenue/Jefferson Street rezone, historic preservation overlay amendments, 2157 South Lincoln Street, 116 East Edith Avenue, Madsen Park plan amendment, 1720 and 1734 South West Temple, the consolidated plan amendments for housing program income, and the 300 West alley vacation, and set a Nov. 14 hearing on HUD community development needs. It approved Grant Holding Account Items (Batch No. 1) and appointed Ben Raskin, Thomas Walker and Antonio Esquibel to the Police Civilian Review Board, and Adrienne White, Jared Stewart and Alan Barnett to the Historic Landmark Commission, and reappointed Michael Vela to that commission.
What residents said
Density and affordabilitySingle-family zone changesHomeless camp abatementsGas-powered landscaping equipment
On non-hearing topics, speakers asked the Council to prioritize affordable homeownership, raised concerns about notice and resources during homeless camp abatements and shelter capacity, and asked about the effect of gas-powered landscaping equipment in a District 6 neighborhood.