Council adopts Rio Grande rezone, temple street closures and nuisance ordinance; defers Sugar House hotel rezone
March 24, 2026, 7:00 p.m. · Salt Lake City and County Building, 451 South State Street
The council, meeting with the Community Reinvestment Agency, adopted the Rio Grande rezone, a rezone on 400 East, temple-area street closures, fence and hedge changes, the recurring nuisance ordinance, the alley and street disposition text amendment, and a 200,000-gallon water use cap for new nonresidential development, all by 7-0 votes. After more than 30 speakers, it deferred action on the Sugar House hotel rezone, with Council Member Eva Lopez Chavez abstaining, and on the 2260-2290 East 1300 South rezone. It approved the second Inland Port interlocal amendment 6-1.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item CRA B1 · Roads and utilities
Sugar House Streetcar S-Line extension interlocal agreement (CRA board)
Approved · 7-0
Acting as the Community Reinvestment Agency board, members adopted CRA Resolution 6 of 2026 approving the interlocal agreement among the city, the agency and the Utah Transit Authority, allowing the Sugar House streetcar extension to proceed through construction. UTA would own, operate and maintain the future rail.
Item CRA B2 · Contract
Second amendment to Utah Inland Port Authority interlocal agreement (CRA board)
Approved · 6-1
The board adopted CRA Resolution 7 of 2026 approving the second amendment to the 2022 interlocal agreement among the agency, the city and the Utah Inland Port Authority. The first amendment was signed July 25, 2024.
Item E1-E2 · Public hearing
Two grant applications (heard as one public hearing)
No action · 7-0
The council held a hearing, with no public comment, on a Smith Entertainment Group youth growth grant for Gallivan Center ice rink expansion planning (feasibility, architecture and engineering) and a Utah State Board of Education Child and Adult Care Food Program grant to reimburse snacks for YouthCity participants in the 2025-26 school year. The items were referred to a future consent agenda.
- GrantAmount not given to Smith Entertainment Group
- GrantAmount not given to Utah State Board of Education
Item E3 · Other
Airport noise mitigation property disposition at approximately 840 South Gladiola Street
No action · 7-0
The council held a second public hearing, as allowed under city code, on disposing of city-owned property bought with Federal Aviation Administration grant funds as a noise mitigation property. Future uses must be nonresidential and compatible with airport operations. The Airport Advisory Board held a hearing Feb. 11 with no comment. No one spoke, and no further council action is required.
Item E4 · Other
Alley vacation east of Browning Avenue
Approved · 7-0
The petitioner thanked neighbors and city staff. The council adopted Ordinance 6 of 2026 vacating the city-owned alley section that has been impassable since a detached garage was built in 1958; the section will be divided among abutting owners and the northern portion stays open.
- Petition: PLNPCM2025-00883
- Council District 5
Item E5 · City code
Expiration of land use approvals text amendment
Continued · 7-0
Speakers supported the ordinance and suggested limiting extensions to one and making any extension conditional on documented compliance and property maintenance; one raised neglected properties. The hearing was closed and action deferred.
- Petition: PLNPCM2025-00554
Item E6 · Zoning
Zoning map amendment at 2260, 2270 and 2290 East 1300 South
Continued · 7-0
One speaker opposed the rezone citing a lack of commercial amenities and an outdated traffic analysis; two supported it, one for neighbors in Sunnyside East hoping access concerns on 1300 South would be settled in a development agreement. Council Member Daniel Dugan urged neighborhood groups, the city and developers to work out concerns through that agreement. Action was deferred.
- Applicant: J-Development, LLC
- Current zone → proposed: R-1-7000 → MU-3
- Units: 26 (8 townhomes, 18 condominiums); 10% affordable at 80% AMI
- Petition: PLNPCM2025-00558
Item E7 · Zoning
Sugar House hotel master plan and zoning map amendments at 2111 South 1300 East
Continued · 6-0-1
Staff reminded the council the vote was on the rezone, not the hotel. Of roughly 40 speakers, most opposed the rezone, including Sugar House Community Council representatives, citing traffic and parking, scale and incompatibility with the neighborhood and park, loss of views and green space, flood detention risk, precedent, bird safety, limited community benefits and the Sugar House Business District boundary at 1300 East. The developer's team, hotel operator staff, the architect (who said the building would be no taller than seven stories), and several supporters spoke for the rezone, citing jobs, public benefits and parking. Bird Safe Utah asked to work with the developer on bird-safe design. Council Member Sarah Young thanked residents and noted tentative action on April 7. Action was deferred.
- Applicant: John Potter, Magnus Commercial Properties
- Acres: 0.80
- Current zone → proposed: MU-3 → MU-8
Item E8 · Budget
Fiscal year 2026-27 federal housing and community development grants and Funding Our Future housing programs
Continued · 7-0
About 25 representatives of nonprofits, including the Asian Association of Utah, Salt Lake Donated Dental Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Fourth Street Clinic, Fit To Recover, The Road Home, Volunteers of America Utah, Wasatch Community Gardens, NeighborWorks, Housing Connect, First Step House, Habitat for Humanity, Family Promise and others, thanked the council or asked for full or reconsidered funding. Council Member Alejandro Puy thanked them and noted the competitive process and limited resources. Action was deferred.
- Grant$11.3 million
Item F1 · City code
Disposition of alleys and street text amendment
Approved · 7-0
The council adopted Ordinance 7 of 2026 creating a consistent process for requests to close or vacate city-owned streets and alleys, including within subdivision applications.
- Petition: PLNPCM2025-00423
Item F2 · City code
Fence and hedge height text amendment
Approved · 7-0
The council adopted Ordinance 10 of 2026: front-yard fences in M-1 and M-1A districts may be up to six feet, 'hedges' are replaced by 'landscaping' in the fence and utility box rules, and side and rear yard fences may be up to seven feet. Council Member Sarah Young thanked Council Member Alejandro Puy for his work on the ordinance.
- Petitions: PLNPCM2025-00045, PLNPCM2025-00138
Item F3 · Zoning
Rio Grande master plan and zoning map amendment
Approved · 7-0
The council adopted Ordinance 11 of 2026 rezoning 32 properties in the Rio Grande District from G-MU to D-4, allowing more building height, and amending the Downtown Plan to include mid-block walkways.
- Petitions: PLNPCM2025-00180, PLNPCM2025-00181
- Current zone → proposed: G-MU → D-4
Item F4 · Zoning
Master plan and zoning map amendment at 527, 537 and 539 South 400 East
Approved · 7-0
The council adopted Ordinance 12 of 2026 rezoning the properties from RMF-45 to MU-5 and amending the Central Community master plan map for a five-story residential building with ground-floor commercial space. Council Member Puy noted the extensive process of work sessions, hearings and revisions.
- Applicant: Russ Poulsen, Thrive Development
- Current zone → proposed: RMF-45 → MU-5
Item F5 · City code
Recurring nuisance properties ordinance
Approved · 7-0
The council adopted Ordinance 13 of 2026 amending Title 11 on nuisance private property. Council Member Eva Lopez Chavez thanked Council Members Puy and Wharton and former Council Member Mano for crafting a policy that supports businesses while closing loopholes.
Item F6 · Public safety
Temporary street closures for Temple Square 2027 reopening
Approved · 7-0
The council adopted Ordinance 14 of 2026 temporarily closing all or parts of streets adjacent to the Salt Lake Temple between March and October 2027. Council Member Wharton acknowledged disruptions the closures would impose on District 3 residents and stressed public safety; Council Member Puy thanked him for relaying community concerns and negotiating concessions.
Item H1 · Roads and utilities
Sugar House Streetcar S-Line extension interlocal agreement
Approved · 7-0
The council adopted Resolution 7 of 2026 approving the interlocal agreement among the city, the Community Reinvestment Agency and UTA so the streetcar extension can proceed into construction.
Item H2 · Contract
Second amendment to Utah Inland Port Authority interlocal agreement
Approved · 6-1
The council adopted Resolution 6 of 2026 approving the second amendment to the interlocal agreement with the Utah Inland Port Authority.
Item H3 · City code
Daily water use regulations for new nonresidential development
Approved · 7-0
The council adopted Ordinance 8 of 2026 amending Title 17 so the 200,000-gallon annual average daily limit applies to all new commercial, industrial and institutional development, with exemptions limited to agriculture, schools, government-run social service facilities, places of worship and hospitals.
Item H4 · City code
Temporary zoning regulations on daily water use
Approved · 7-0
The council adopted Ordinance 9 of 2026, a temporary land use regulation applying the same water use limits to new nonresidential development for 180 days after taking effect.
Item J · Other
Consent agenda
Approved · 7-0
The council approved the consent agenda: setting April 7 hearings on the rezone of 256 East 300 South from R-MU to D-1 for a hotel in a 185-foot building (negative Planning Commission recommendation) and the rezone of about 1073 South Navajo Street from R-1/5,000 to RMF-30; and appointing Kim Stowe to the Business Advisory Board.
What residents said
Traffic and scale of Sugar House hotelFederal immigration detention warehouseHonorary street name for 500 SouthWestside road safety
Sugar House hotel rezone: about 30 opponents and about 10 supporters. Housing grants: nonprofit representatives asked for funding. General comment: speakers asked to rename the Cesar Chavez honorary street after Dolores Huerta, opposed a reported federally purchased warehouse for immigration detention, and raised Westside road safety after a child pedestrian collision.