Council briefed on Ballpark Station Area rezone, Northpoint annexation and tougher penalties for unpermitted work on historic buildings
April 2, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
At the April 2 work session the Council heard briefings on the Ballpark Station Area rezone and new MU-8 zone, the start of the Northpoint annexation, a Metropolitan Water District property tax proposal, a $350,000 loan for Parea, LLC and new enforcement rules for work on historic buildings without approval. Council Member Darin Mano recused himself from the Ballpark items; Council Member Sarah Young was absent. A straw poll backed full funding for Housing Connect rental assistance.
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 gave a homelessness update: shelter capacity, encampment mitigation and rapid intervention team locations, an April 12 resource fair at Pioneer Park and a hygiene kit assembly event that evening.
Item 2 · Zoning
Ballpark Station Area rezone and MU-8 zone text amendments
Discussed
Staff briefed the Council on rezoning properties in the Ballpark Station Area to carry out the area plan and creating a new form-based zone, Mixed Use 8 (MU-8), with some properties also going to FB-UN1 and FB-UN2. The Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation. Staff covered MU-8 open space, design, sidewalk and ground-floor standards, parking varying by context, affordable housing incentives, and why the ballfield and its parking lot stay in the Public Lands zone; rezoning the ballpark properties would be a second phase after the Ballpark NEXT guiding principles. Staff asked whether the Council would add amphitheater, health and fitness facility, community recreation center, plaza and stadium as MU-8 uses; no member opposed. Council Member Mano recused himself from this item and item 3.
- Planning Commission: positive recommendation (October 2023)
- Recusal: Council Member Darin Mano
Item 3 · City code
MU-8 zone sign regulations text amendment
Discussed
Staff briefed the Council on on-site sign rules for the proposed MU-8 zone, including changes to sections 21A.46.096 (form-based district signs) and 21A.46.125 (vintage signs). The Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation. Council Member Mano was recused.
Item 4 · Annexation
Northpoint area annexation initiation
Discussed
The Council was briefed on a resolution to start annexing unincorporated Salt Lake County land along 2200 West in the Northpoint community. The resolution would only begin the process; zoning would be set when the annexation returns for final approval. Next steps: adopt the resolution April 2, a protest period from April 2 to May 7 with protests received by the City Recorder, a public hearing May 7, then possible adoption, followed by consent from Salt Lake County and North Salt Lake and filing with the Lieutenant Governor's Office.
Item 5 · City code
Attached garages zoning text amendment
Discussed
Planning staff proposed a citywide update to rules for attached structures such as garages, entrance landings and building foundations to match a 2021 state law (HB1003) that bars cities from regulating design elements including garage door locations, exterior colors, glass and roof materials. The update also clarifies current code. The Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation.
Item 6 · Zoning
Rezone at about 536 South 200 West and Orchard Place from D-2 to D-1
Discussed
Staff and the applicant described a request to rezone 536 South 200 West and four lots on West Orchard Place from D-2 Downtown Support to D-1 Central Business, matching a recently approved D-2 to D-1 change for the neighboring property to the north. No development plans were submitted. The Planning Commission recommended approval.
- Applicant: the applicant, for the property owners
- Current zone → proposed: D-2 → D-1
- Planning Commission: recommended approval
Item 8 · Presentation
Salt Lake County Animal Services 2023 annual report
Discussed
County Animal Services reported a decade of no-kill sheltering, over 18,000 calls for service, more than 2,600 pets adopted or sent to rescues, 3,500 sterilizations, a 93% live release rate, 1,281 animals fostered and 673 rescued. Common city citations were animals at large, no license and no rabies vaccination.
Item 9 · Taxes and fees
Metropolitan Water District property tax proposal for fiscal 2024-25
Discussed
The Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy presented a proposed certified tax rate increase to 0.00035, which would raise $8.6 million toward $9.3 million in revenue needs for aging infrastructure. The same revenue could instead come from a 36.33% water rate increase. If the city councils do not approve the tax increase, the district would raise water rates to its member cities. The district's board has seven trustees, five appointed by Salt Lake City and two by Sandy.
- Fee$8.60 million to Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy
Item 10 · Contract
Economic Development Loan Fund: $350,000 loan to Parea, LLC
Discussed
Staff briefed the Council on a $350,000 loan for Parea, LLC, a Greek restaurant and market at 320 East 900 South, an expansion of an existing restaurant. The loan is meant to create 15 jobs in the next year and keep 30. The owner owns the land and is adding its own investment, and the Loan Committee highly recommended the project.
- Contract$350,000 to Parea, LLC
Item 11 · Budget
Fiscal year 2024-25 federal grant allocations follow-up
Discussed
Staff noted recent Council funding decisions had been added to the funding log. Fix The Bricks stays funded in place of the Community Land Trust, and Administration housing policy drafts including the trust would come to the Council. The Gail Miller Resource Center and Geraldine E. King $30,000 grant is limited to security. Under the pandemic CDBG-CV plan, 26 of 29 applications would get awards, and the Administration will tell applicants the funds are one-time. A $100,000 local grant that went unused was recaptured, and nearly $28,000 of it would fill the rental assistance gap; a straw poll with all present in favor supported bringing Housing Connect to $550,000 so no tenants lose housing. A vote was scheduled for April 16, and funding contingencies tied to final HUD awards would be attached to the resolution.
- Grant$550,000 to Housing Connect
Item 12 · Appointment
Housing Authority of Salt Lake Board interview: Fraser Nelson
Discussed
The Council interviewed Fraser Nelson for a term ending April 2, 2028; Council Member Petro said the name was on the consent agenda.
Item 13 · City code
Enforcement on work without a Certificate of Appropriateness (historic districts)
Discussed
City-initiated amendments would add enforcement tools for unlawful construction or demolition in the H Historic Preservation Overlay. They would limit redevelopment of a site for 25 years unless the building is reconstructed, set a reconstruction process and clarify economic hardship eligibility. New fees would include $250 a day for work without a certificate of appropriateness on demolition of a contributing structure or landmark, a boarded building fee raised from $1,560 to $14,000, a $14,850 enhanced fee for boarded contributing structures, a $250-a-day stop work fee and general fines of $50 to $200 a day. The Planning Commission recommended approval; the Historic Landmark Commission did too, with conditions to lengthen the 25-year limit to 50 years and explore a fee for vacant property. Council Member Mano suggested stricter standards for landmarks than for buildings in historic districts. Council Member Puy asked about preventing demolition by neglect; staff said a separate ordinance is in progress.
- Fee$14,000
- Fee$14,850
Item 15 · Other
Executive Director report
Discussed
Staff asked about moving the April 16 meeting and later budget-season work sessions to 1:00 p.m.; a straw poll had all members present in favor. Packets would go out on Fridays during budget season.
Item 16 · Other
Closed session
No action · 6-0
The Council voted 6-0 to enter a closed session on collective bargaining and attorney-client matters and 5-0 to exit (Council Member Mano had left at 6:12 p.m.).
What residents said
Loss of historic buildings to unpermitted demolitionWater district tax versus rate increase