Council hears public comment on downtown sports and entertainment district zoning, adopts form-based zone fixes and landfill distribution-center ban
August 13, 2024, 6:00 p.m.
The Salt Lake City Council held 14 public hearings, adopting a form-based zone corrections amendment and a ban on distribution centers at the former North Temple Landfill, and a $75,000 loan for a brewery. It heard from many speakers on the proposed downtown Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention district text amendment, then deferred action. All votes were 6-0 with Council Member Alejandro Puy absent.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item B1-B4 · Public hearing
Four grant applications heard as one hearing: homeless shelter mitigation, COPS hiring, HIDTA, law enforcement wellness
Approved · 6-0
Council held one hearing on four grant applications. The Mayor's Office is seeking a Homeless Shelter Cities Mitigation Grant from state Workforce Services that would fund four new and 18 existing full-time positions. The Police Department is applying for a federal COPS Hiring Grant for 12 new officers focused on the Jordan River Trail and parks, a Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area grant for two existing positions, training, K9 contracts and supplies, and a federal Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness grant for peer support training and materials. One resident urged support for the Jordan River grant, citing drug and alcohol problems and the need for a safe area. Council closed the hearing and referred the items to a future consent agenda.
- GrantAmount not given to State of Utah Workforce Services
- GrantAmount not given to U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office
Item B5 · Other
Resolution 26 of 2024: donate up to 500 surplus city computers
Approved · 6-0
Council adopted a resolution authorizing the donation of up to 500 surplus city computers to benefit disadvantaged communities and low- and moderate-income families through the Computers for the Community program. There was no public comment.
Item B6 · Budget
Public Utilities Revenue Bond, Series 2024A
No action · 6-0
Council held a hearing on a resolution authorizing issuance of the city's Public Utilities Revenue Bonds, Series 2024A, including any economic impact on the private sector. Staff reviewed the request and there was no public comment. Council closed the hearing; no adoption vote is recorded in these minutes.
- BondAmount not given
Item B7 · Budget
Airport revolving line of credit up to $400 million
No action · 6-0
Council held a hearing on a resolution to issue a line of credit of up to $400,000,000 to fund ongoing Airport Redevelopment Project work at lower interest rates until the next round of bonds, likely in 2025. Staff reviewed the request and no one commented. Council closed the hearing.
- Bond$400.0 million
Item B8 · Public hearing
Vacate a portion of 700 South near 5600 West
Continued · 6-0
Council held a hearing on an ordinance to vacate a portion of 700 South along the north side of a property near 5600 West, left over after a new section of 700 South was built connecting to 5600 West. If vacated, the segment would be sold to the petitioner at fair market value and converted to private use. The applicant represented the property owner (Petition PLNPCM2023-00482). No one commented. Council closed the hearing and deferred action.
Item B9 · City code
Form-based zone corrections text amendment
Approved · 6-0
The ordinance corrects sections of Title 21A for Form Based Districts, adopted in 2016 and amended in 2023, where staff found standards that were incorrect, inconsistent or incompatible with the chapter's intent (Petition PLNPCM2024-00155). No one commented. Council adopted Ordinance 59 of 2024.
Item B10 · City code
Projecting business signs text amendment
Continued · 6-0
The ordinance would make standards for projecting business signs in commercial and mixed-use districts consistent and clearer (Petition PLNPCM2023-00996). No one commented. Council closed the hearing and deferred action.
Item B11 · Zoning
Allow single-family attached dwellings in select commercial zones
Continued · 6-0
The text amendment would allow single-family attached dwellings in the Community Business, Community Shopping, Commercial Corridor, General Commercial and Sugar House Business districts, where multifamily housing is already allowed. Petitioner was Natalie Linchenko of TAG SLC (Petition PLNPCM2023-00894). No one commented. Council closed the hearing and deferred action.
Item B12 · Zoning
Prohibit distribution centers on former North Temple Landfill site
Approved · 6-0
The ordinance adds a definition of 'Distribution Center' and prohibits distribution-related uses on the former landfill site within the Northwest Quadrant Overlay, to avoid concentrating a single land use and allow the diverse uses in the Northwest Quadrant Master Plan (Petition PLNPCM2024-00226, Council District 1). No one commented. Council adopted Ordinance 60 of 2024.
Item B13 · Budget
Fiscal Year 2024-25 Capital Improvement Program project funding hearing
Continued · 6-0
Council heard a final hearing on project-specific allocations in the Capital Improvement Program, which Council must approve by September 1. About ten speakers commented. Several asked for a mid-block crosswalk at 500 East, and four residents and a neighbor asked for lighting, curb and gutter on Fayette Avenue between 200 West and 240 West, citing parking and safety. Others supported Green Loop, Harvey Milk Boulevard and Memory Grove lighting projects, a park on 1000 West and open space on the west side, and noted the backlog of unfunded requests. Council closed the hearing; action was set for August 27.
Item B14 · Zoning
Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention District text amendment (D-4 zone)
Continued · 6-0
The ordinance would amend the D-4 Secondary Central Business District to support a Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention district. It would raise the maximum height allowed through design review from 125 feet to 600 feet, let buildings with plazas exceed maximum setbacks, make stadiums and commercial parking permitted instead of conditional uses (the ban on demolishing a building for principal-use parking stays), and extend the Delta Center sign overlay to the blocks containing the Salt Palace. The Planning Commission had given a negative recommendation. About a dozen speakers commented: several asked that Abravanel Hall be removed from the sign overlay and objected to allowed building height and to bypassing Planning Commission review; a Planning Commissioner said the commission was able to review large projects; representatives of nearby faith communities asked for protections and more frequent meetings during construction; others raised cost, pace and the lack of a guarantee, while some supported added height and housing above venues. Council Member Young thanked speakers and said comments were being considered. Council closed the hearing and deferred action.
Item F1 · Budget
Ordinance 61 of 2024: $75,000 loan to Policy Kings Brewery
Approved · 6-0
Council adopted an ordinance approving a $75,000 Economic Development Loan Fund loan to Policy Kings Brewery, LLC, described as Utah's first Black-owned brewery. The motion stated the intent to move the funds in the coming budget amendment and asked the Administration to process the request quickly.
- Budget$75,000 to Policy Kings Brewery, LLC
Item G1-G2 · Other
Consent: set Sept. 3 hearing on Budget Amendment No. 1; Library Board appointment
Approved · 6-0
Council set a September 3 hearing on Budget Amendment No. 1 for fiscal 2024-25, which includes three new Attorney's Office positions, Fleet Block pre-development work and demolition, a new airport line of credit and ongoing Public Lands maintenance funding. It also approved the appointment of Tricia Pil to the Library Board for a term ending June 30, 2027.
What residents said
Abravanel Hall sign overlayBuilding height up to 600 feetPlanning Commission review bypassFayette Avenue lighting and curb and gutterMid-block crosswalk at 500 EastWater stabilization fees
During general comment, one speaker thanked officials and asked that the Rio Grande project keep moving; another asked whether the sales tax study accounted for shoppers avoiding the entertainment area; one raised water stabilization fees for townhome owners compared with single-family owners; one questioned the tax increase tied to the Olympic bid and sports district.