Council briefed on University of Utah baseball lease at Sunnyside Park, historic district, 44 North Apartments and daycare zoning changes
February 6, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
In a long work session the council heard briefings on a proposed 99-year ground lease to the University of Utah at Sunnyside Park, a Yalecrest-Laird Heights historic district, a Woodland Commons townhome rezone, 67 deeply affordable apartments on 1000 West, daycare zoning changes and the city audit. It also reviewed Budget Amendment No. 3 and updated landscaping rules, then held a closed session.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Administration updates
Discussed
Staff said shelters and winter beds were at full capacity, a resource fair was set for Feb. 9, and the city had submitted state funding requests for public safety, prevention and behavioral health.
Item 2 · Zoning
Yalecrest-Laird Heights Local Historic District
Discussed
The council was briefed on applying the H-Historic Overlay to 66 homes on Laird Avenue from 1300 East to 1500 East, including Laird Circle and Uintah Circle. Staff said a property owner support survey had 85% turnout. Council members discussed how local historic districts interact with the recently passed Affordable Housing Incentives, concluding new construction would not affect them. A hearing was planned for March 5. Council Member Chris Wharton disclosed a family member's involvement with the district without compensation and stated no conflict of interest.
- Petitioner: the applicant; the petitioner at the briefing was Becky Woods
- Council District 6
Item 3 · Zoning
Zoning map and general plan amendments at approximately 2445 South 500 East (Woodland Commons)
Discussed
The council was briefed on rezoning the property from R-1/7,000 to RMF-35 and amending the Sugar House master plan map to allow eight townhomes. The petitioner said he wanted for-sale units; council members discussed how the request could fit the affordable housing incentive program for for-sale units and how smaller units could be created. The petitioner was not interested in redoing the plans to make units smaller but would discuss affordable housing incentives.
- Petitioner: the applicant, Atlas Architects, for the property owner
- Current zone to proposed: R-1/7,000 to RMF-35
- Council District 7
Item 4 · Development
Resolution authorizing Salt Lake County Housing Authority to operate in the city for 44 North Apartments
Discussed
Staff briefed a resolution declaring a need for the housing authority (Housing Connect) to exercise powers in the city so it can develop, with nonprofit First Step House, 67 one- and two-bedroom apartments at 44 and 48 North 1000 West for tenants earning 25-35% of area median income. Completion is projected for 2026. A hearing was planned for March 5.
- Applicants: Housing Connect with First Step House
- Units: 67
- Rents affordable to 25-35% of area median income
Item 5 · Presentation
Annual financial audit report
Discussed
Auditors from Eide Bailly presented the audit plan and timeline for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. Council members discussed a 35% general fund balance threshold, noting bond rating analysts would look at a 30% balance for the whole city.
Item 6 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 3, fiscal 2023-24 (follow-up)
Discussed
Staff discussed the downtown parking pay station request, the aging equipment, a five-year vendor contract and 10-year working life, with the vendor chosen through a request for proposals. Council Member Alejandro Puy said he was not ready to vote on the pay stations and wanted more information on ongoing costs. Staff noted separate motions would be needed for the pay stations, release of $500,000 allocated for sanctioned camping, and police overtime, for which Puy said his questions were answered.
Item 7 · City code
Landscaping and Buffers chapter text amendment (follow-up)
Discussed
Planning staff described updates to the turf definition, tree canopy rules, parking lot landscaping, rock and mulch limits, higher park strip vegetation height allowances and enforcement, and said the rules would not be retroactive. Council members asked staff to clarify in the amendment that park strips on one parcel be treated as a whole rather than individually.
Item 9 · Parks
University of Utah baseball stadium public benefits analysis
Discussed
The council was briefed on a resolution that would authorize a 99-year below-market ground lease of 1.175 acres at about 1735 Sunnyside Avenue to the University of Utah to expand its baseball field to NCAA standards, removing one city softball field and one multipurpose field in Sunnyside Park. In exchange the university would commit $4.2 million for park improvements, with amenities set through community engagement. Mayor Erin Mendenhall said no executed contract existed. Council members asked how to ensure the funds are spent at Sunnyside Park (through the agreement), about land value and impact fees, and about adding public benefit language to the resolution. A hearing was set for Feb. 20.
- Land deal$4.20 million to University of Utah
Item 10 · City code
Zoning text amendment for daycare facilities
Discussed
Planners proposed citywide changes to align city rules with state code and reduce zoning barriers to childcare, citing 23,000 children without care and 454 licensed home daycares and 99 centers in the city. The proposal would remove conditional use standards such as a 20,000-square-foot minimum lot size, location and orientation, playground placement and landscape buffer requirements for home daycares. A hearing was planned for March 5.
Item 11 · Presentation
State legislative briefing
Discussed
The city's legislative director and contract lobbyist reviewed tracked bills, the Feb. 15 state budget, homeownership bills, religious-freedom bills affecting city employees and an alert on SB172.
Item 13 · Other
Executive director report: conference travel
Approved
Council members supported travel for Council Members Alejandro Puy and Darin Mano to the ULI Spring Conference in New York City.
Other
Motion to enter closed session
Approved · 7-0
The council voted 7-0 to enter a closed session on collective bargaining strategy, real property purchase, exchange, lease or sale strategy, and attorney-client matters, and 7-0 to exit. The session began at 5:35 p.m. and the meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
What residents said
Loss of ball fields at Sunnyside ParkParking pay station costsChildcare zoning barriers