Council hears plan for up to 1,800 homes on Rose Park Lane and a $2.4 million fee refund request for student housing
August 15, 2023, 2:00 p.m. · City & County Building, Salt Lake City
The council was briefed on an annexation and rezone near 2350 and 2441 North Rose Park Lane that could allow up to 1,800 dwelling units, on the first budget amendment of the fiscal year, on a public benefit analysis for fee waivers for the Ivory University House student housing project, and on unallocated federal housing program income. In a straw poll, five of seven members backed the full $250,000 for fall downtown Open Streets events. The council then voted 7-0 to go into closed session.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Annexation near 2441 North Rose Park Lane and rezone at 2350 North Rose Park Lane | Discussed |
| Budget Amendment No. 1 for fiscal year 2023-24 | Discussed |
| Ivory University House public benefits analysis | Discussed |
| Unallocated housing program income funds | Discussed |
| Closed session | Approved · 7-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Updates from the Administration
Discussed
Staff reviewed transportation projects (Capitol Hill traffic calming, 1000 West intersection improvements, 600/700 North reconstruction) and City Creek daylighting at Folsom Trail. On homelessness, the winter services plan runs October 2023 to April 2024 with more than 600 beds operating around the clock, including 175 Homeless Resource Center flex beds and 65 St. Vincent de Paul beds, plus Code Blue options below 15 degrees. Members asked about mitigation funding for neighborhoods hosting flex shelters, flex shelter locations, family housing and whether the bed cap needs to rise.
Item 2 · Annexation
Annexation near 2441 North Rose Park Lane and rezone at 2350 North Rose Park Lane
Discussed
The proposal would annex about 28 acres, zoning city-owned land at 2440 North and state-owned land at 2462 North as Open Space and the 2441 North parcel (Hunter Stables) as Residential/Mixed-Use, and rezone 2350 North from AG-2 Agricultural to R-MU. The parcels are used for horse boarding and equipment storage. The change would allow a mixed-use, multi-family development of potentially 1,800 dwelling units. The planning commission recommended against it. Members discussed transit, green space, noise, a food-desert area, safety tools in the R-MU zone, the road's interaction with the canal and Jordan River, and why the requested zone rather than lower density. The applicant's team said changes addressed planning commission concerns and mentioned a possible development agreement.
- Applicant: J Right Communities
- Acres annexed: about 28
- AG-2 to R-MU (2350 N); annexed parcels OS and R-MU
- Petition: PLNPCM2021-01124 and PLNPCM2021-01134
- Planning commission recommendation: negative
Item 4 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 1 for fiscal year 2023-24
Discussed
Staff presented ten amendments totaling $2,139,398 in revenue and $14,892,993 in expenditures, including $250,000 from general fund balance, across five funds. If all were adopted, the general fund balance would be projected at 11.38 percent, $7,190,963 below the 13 percent target, mainly because of an estimated $8.5 million in expense changes pending the audit. Items discussed included a $218,000 donation for ball field lighting at Riverside Park (straw poll support from all members) and $250,000 in one-time money for fall 2023 Downtown Open Streets events. Council Members Chris Wharton, Ana Valdemoros, Sarah Young, Alejandro Puy and Dan Dugan supported funding the full request in a straw poll; Council Members Darin Mano and Victoria Petro did not. Members asked for data on the activation, costs and business feedback.
- Grant$218,000
- Budget$250,000
- Budget$14.9 million
Item 6 · Contract
Ivory University House public benefits analysis
Discussed
The finance department's analysis covered a 465-unit student housing project under construction at 434 South Mario Capecchi Drive. It concluded the project, while not income restricted, would be rent restricted and meet student affordable housing needs. The city would waive or refund just over $2.4 million in impact and permit fees; in return Ivory University House L3C would pledge the same sum over ten years to need-based scholarships run by the University of Utah and reserved for city residents. Members asked about the timing of the analysis, who would receive scholarships and how a city resident is defined. A representative of the company described its operating agreement, under which profits go to a scholarship fund.
- Fee$2.40 million to Ivory University House L3C
Item 7 · Budget
Unallocated housing program income funds
Discussed
Housing staff presented proposed allocations of accumulated HUD program income (CDBG and HOME) and non-restricted funds, including a revolving tenant and homeowner loan fund, and asked whether the council supported the allocations and the loan fund. Members discussed renaming a rental rehabilitation program, the approval timeline and application process; more detail on the loan fund will come back.
Other
Closed session
Approved · 7-0
The council, also sitting as the RDA board, voted 7-0 to enter closed session to discuss the purchase, exchange or lease of real property and attorney-client matters; the closed session ran from 5:15 to 6:00 p.m.