Council briefed on three rezones, budget amendment and I-15 draft study
October 3, 2023, 2:00 p.m.
The Council heard briefings on rezones at 2157 South Lincoln Street, 116 East Edith Avenue and an M-1 height change for bulk storage near I-80, and followed up on Budget Amendment No. 2. UDOT presented the draft Interstate 15 environmental study. Members also discussed the affordable housing incentives and Thriving in Place plan, and interviewed three board nominees. No formal votes were taken except to enter and leave a closed session.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Updates from the Administration
Discussed
Weston Clark, the mayor's senior advisor, listed upcoming planning commission dates (Ballpark Station Area zoning map, subdivision code and community benefit requirements on Oct. 11), the Capitol Hill traffic calming work, Glendale Regional Park playground, Allen Park phase 2 and a City Creek water treatment upgrade starting Nov. 1. Andrew Johnston gave a homelessness update, including Resource Center use and an Oct. 13 resource fair at Pioneer Park. Members were told the Huntsman Mental Health Facility would offer beds for unhoused people with mental health needs.
Item 2 · Presentation
Equity update: language access and community forums
Discussed
Xris Macias reported 28 language liaisons and 24 workshop sessions, 11 of them completed. Michelle Mooney reported on the Eradicate Hate Global Summit, and Ashley Lichtle announced a Disability Community Forum on Oct. 26 at the Marmalade Library. Members asked who attended the workshops and whether they were recorded.
Item 3 · Zoning
Rezone at 2157 South Lincoln Street
Discussed
Staff described a request to rezone about 0.7 acres from RB (Residential/Business) to C-SHBD2 (Sugar House Business District) to allow a multifamily project that would preserve and reuse the Victorian house on the site. The Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation, with a condition to remove the park strip and widen the sidewalk. Petitioner representative the applicant said designating the house historic would cause ADA access problems to its upper floors and that exhibits on sidewalk width would be provided at the public hearing. Members asked about the sidewalk condition, affordable housing, parking, electric vehicle charging, bike storage and how a development agreement would keep preservation commitments with the land.
- Petitioner: the applicant, for the property owners
- Acres: about 0.7
- Current zone → proposed: RB → C-SHBD2
- Planning Commission: positive recommendation
- Hearing set for Nov. 7; tentative action Nov. 14
Item 4 · Zoning
Rezone and master plan amendment at 116 East Edith Avenue
Discussed
Staff presented a request to rezone property at 116 East Edith Avenue (about 1200 South) from R-1/5,000 (Single Family Residential) to CC (Corridor Commercial) and change the Central Community future land use map from Low-Density Residential to Community Commercial. No development proposal has been submitted. Planning staff had recommended approval, but the Planning Commission forwarded a negative recommendation. The applicant said the lot has long been used as a car lot, that it would be maintained, and that Edith Avenue access would not be used. Members and staff noted that no house is or has been on the lot, and that tax records show commercial use.
- Applicant: the applicant (petitioner representative: Ian Kaplan, ADDVirtue)
- Current zone → proposed: R-1/5,000 → CC; future land use Low-Density Residential → Community Commercial
- Planning Commission: negative recommendation; staff had recommended approval
- Hearing set for Nov. 7; tentative action Nov. 14
Item 5 · City code
Text amendment on maximum height in the M-1 Light Manufacturing District
Discussed
The Salt Lake Garfield and Western Railway Company asked to allow bulk material storage structures of up to 150 feet, tied to a rail freight terminal, west of 5600 West and between 100 and 1,000 feet south of Interstate 80, in the Utah Inland Port jurisdiction. The Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation. Members asked what would be stored, how hazardous materials would be regulated (staff said state rules apply), why the height and the buffer were chosen, and how the plan fits coming rail yard changes.
- Petitioner: Salt Lake Garfield and Western Railway Company
- Planning Commission: positive recommendation
- Hearing set for Oct. 17; tentative action Nov. 7
Item 6 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 2 for fiscal year 2023-24 (follow-up)
Discussed
Staff reviewed the amendment, which includes $24.8 million from the first issuance of the Parks, Trails and Open Space bond, $2.34 million in U.S. Treasury emergency rental assistance, a $100,000 Utah Jazz donation for Liberty Park basketball courts, a new Public Lands Planning and Design Division, and a new position to help create special assessment areas for business districts ($128,000 from general fund balance). Council Member Sarah Young asked to shift funding for the Re-Imagining Neighborhood Parks item from the McClelland trail to lighting and safety improvements at Fairmont Park; members raised no concerns. Council Member Daniel Dugan said he wanted to meet with the project team on the Miller Park rescope before the Council approves it. A straw poll showed all present members in favor of the $1 million Clean Energy and Air Roadmap grant (item G-1).
- Bond$24.8 million
- Grant$2.34 million to U.S. Treasury
- Grant$100,000 to Utah Jazz
- Grant$1.00 million
- Staff: Ben Luedtke
- Eight new full-time positions proposed, five tied to the state homeless shelter cities mitigation grant ($3,107,201)
- Hearing Oct. 3; tentative action Oct. 17
Item 7 · Roads and utilities
UDOT Interstate 15 study: potential widening and interchange improvements
Discussed
UDOT officials presented the draft environmental impact statement for I-15 between 400 South in Salt Lake City and US-89 in Farmington, covering mainline alternatives, interchange options, bike and walking improvements and the public comment period. They said most widening would stay within the existing footprint and no homes would be lost in Salt Lake City. Council members asked about options that do not widen I-15, health effects on nearby residents, whether changes would proceed regardless of public input, and the effect of interchanges on freeway flow. The Council asked for a report showing how public comments were incorporated.
- Presenters: Brandon Weston, Shane Marshall, Siobhan Locke, Mike Romero (UDOT and consultants)
Item 9 · City code
Affordable housing incentives (follow-up)
Discussed
Staff reviewed a citywide ordinance amending Title 21A to create a chapter of zoning incentives for affordable housing, including administrative design review, added height, planned development modifications, removal of density limits in RMF zones and more dwelling types. Members asked about staffing, speeding approvals, how affordability is set relative to 80% of area median income, for-sale housing incentives, enforcement of construction outside permits, setbacks and effects on neighbors. Staff asked members to send questions before the item returns.
- Staff: Nick Tarbet
- Petition: PLNPCM2019-00658
- Hearing set for Oct. 17
Item 10 · General plan
Thriving in Place anti-displacement plan (follow-up)
Discussed
Allison Rowland asked the Council to decide whether the Thriving in Place plan, the city's proposed anti-gentrification and anti-displacement plan, is ready for adoption into the general plan. Members discussed new funding sources, whether to adopt the goals first and address funding later, a high-level timeline for priorities, and using existing tenant assistance and Good Landlord programs and remaining tenant assistance funds.
- Hearing Oct. 3; tentative action Oct. 17
Item 11 · General plan
North Temple Boulevard plan amendment to keep Madsen Park in place
No action
The Council received a written briefing only on an amendment to the North Temple Boulevard Plan that would remove the recommendation to relocate Madsen Park, keep it where it is, and reimagine and improve it. No discussion was held.
- Hearing set for Nov. 7; tentative action Nov. 14
Item 12 · Appointment
Board appointment interviews: Cultural Core Finance Committee, Utah Performing Arts Center Agency, Transportation Advisory Board
Discussed
The Council interviewed Kathryn Carlisle-Kesling (Cultural Core Finance Committee), Helen Langan (Utah Performing Arts Center Agency board) and Josh Stewart (Transportation Advisory Board). Council Member Darin Mano said each name was on the consent agenda for formal consideration.
Item 17 · Other
Closed session
Approved · 6-0
The Council voted to enter a closed session for strategy on pending or reasonably imminent litigation and privileged attorney-client matters, from 6:39 to 6:58 p.m. Council Member Ana Valdemoros was absent for the closed session votes. The Council then voted to exit.
What residents said
Park strip and sidewalk width on Lincoln StreetI-15 widening and neighborhood health effectsFunding for Miller Park trail