Council briefed on Goltz Avenue and West Temple rezones, housing report and legislative intents
October 10, 2023, 2:30 p.m.
The Council received briefings on a Ballpark-area rezone that the Planning Commission recommended denying, a West Temple rezone, unallocated housing program income, and the second budget amendment. It also heard a state housing market report and continued discussion of the affordable housing incentives ordinance. No votes were taken.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Updates from the Administration
Discussed
Staff reported an Arts Council call for artists, availability of the I-15 draft environmental impact statement, community office hours and a homelessness update covering Resource Center use, a resource fair and outreach centers. The state's purchasing request process had closed and a decision was pending.
Item 2 · Other
Legislative intents for fiscal year 2023-24 (first briefing)
Discussed
Allison Rowland summarized the Council's adopted legislative intents by department. Airport officials described added bus routes for employees, fare-free months and grants for electric buses. Transit staff said the Trips to Transit program left 1% of rides unfulfilled, and expansion to other zones would take one to two years with a funding request at the next budget discussion. Council members asked for a running list of open intents, timeline updates on Trips to Transit and a cost analysis on the Boarded Business intent. The Public Utilities director said a water usage report would be made public.
Item 3 · Budget
Substantial amendments to the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and 2023-24 Annual Action Plan for unallocated housing program income
Discussed
Staff presented how HUD program income (CDBG and HOME) would be allocated: $6.4 million already approved in the fiscal 2024 budget for the RDA notice-of-funding-availability program plus $463,696.23 received, $5.6 million for acquiring property for future housing, $250,000 for west side improvements, $250,000 for the neighborhood business improvement (facade) program, $10 million for the RDA program and $3 million for housing development near the Ballpark area. The Council would set a hearing, adopt a resolution and submit the amendments to HUD, which has 30 days to approve.
- Land deal$5.60 million
- Budget$3.00 million
Item 4 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 2 for fiscal year 2023-24 (follow-up)
Discussed
Staff covered a one-time transfer of cash balances, staffing for Love Your Neighbor now funded by the city rather than a grant, the city pay plan, an accounting change for the RDA, and a $1 million transfer for sanctioned camping from a canceled development escrow grant. It also would create a new Public Lands planning and design division with four architects and a division director. Council Member Chris Wharton asked for a meeting to understand the need for the new position and structural changes.
Item 5 · Zoning
Rezone and master plan amendments at 135, 159 and 163 West Goltz Avenue and 1036 South Jefferson Street
Discussed
TAG SLC, LLC asked to rezone the properties from RMF-35 to R-MU and change the Ballpark Station Area plan from Medium-Density Residential to High-Density Residential Mixed Use, to allow several multifamily developments; no plans were submitted. Staff said the city received more than 20 emails and several calls opposing the plan change and that the Planning Commission recommended denial because the request did not align with the area plan. Applicant representative the applicant described the mixed-use proposal. Council Member Darin Mano expressed concern about a plan amendment so soon after the master plan was approved with community support.
- Applicant: TAG SLC, LLC
- Current zone → proposed: RMF-35 → R-MU; future land use Medium-Density Residential → High-Density Residential Mixed Use
- Planning Commission: recommended denial
- Council District 5
Item 7 · Zoning
Rezone and master plan amendment at 1720 and 1734 South West Temple
Discussed
The applicant asked to rezone about 0.48 acres from R-1/5,000 to R-MU-45 and change the Central Community plan from Low-Density to Medium-Density Residential. The land is in the Ballpark area but outside the Ballpark plan area, and R-MU-45 would require at least 20% open space. The applicant said the parcels are large and underused and that adjacent properties do not follow current zoning. Council Member Mano and staff discussed setbacks from the street.
- Applicant: the applicant
- Acres: about 0.48
- Current zone → proposed: R-1/5,000 → R-MU-45
- Council District 5
Item 8 · Presentation
Housing report from the Gardner Policy Institute
Discussed
James Wood of the Gardner Policy Institute said Utah building permits for homes were down, new households outnumber new housing units, and mortgage rates were above 7.5%. He gave Salt Lake City's median sales price as $522,700 and said home building would fall to 22,750 units in 2023, a 24% drop, with a modest recovery in 2024. He listed practices for affordability including land use rules, preservation, RDAs and tax increment financing, and accessory dwelling units. Council Member Victoria Petro asked for a map of wage growth in the city.
Item 10 · City code
Affordable housing incentives (follow-up)
Discussed
Council Member Daniel Dugan read a statement relaying residents' concerns about homeownership and wealth building as city priorities. Members and staff discussed traffic safety, deed restrictions to keep low-income housing affordable, incentivizing homeownership, moderate density increases and the Avenues as a model. Council Member Chris Wharton thanked Dugan, and staff member Nick Tarbet spoke on enforcement efforts.
Item 11 · General plan
Certification of the Downtown Plan as the station area plan
No action
The Council received a written briefing on certifying the Downtown Plan as the station area plan for 13 TRAX and FrontRunner stations, required by recent state law. No discussion was held.
What residents said
Compatibility of Goltz Avenue rezone with Ballpark planHousing affordability and homeownership