Council straw polls favor 10% open space, 15-foot maximum setbacks and FAA height condition for Jordan River Fairpark district
November 19, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
In a work session the Council held a follow-up briefing on the Jordan River Fairpark District and took a series of unanimous or near-unanimous straw polls on open space, design standards, building height, setbacks and walkways. Members were also briefed on two rezonings, two $250,000 economic development loans and Budget Amendment No. 2 for fiscal 2024-25, including 12 new police officers and $3.9 million for city vehicles.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Public safety
Winter shelter plans update
Discussed
Andrew Johnston of the Administration briefed the Council on Homeless Resource Center use, encampment impact mitigation and rapid intervention updates, the Point in Time Count, overflow and Code Blue beds, storage options and expectations for Code Blue facilities. Council Member Lopez Chavez asked how many cleanups involved abandoned belongings rather than camps and whether dedicated storage was being used.
Item 2 · Zoning
Jordan River Fairpark District zoning map and text amendment, follow-up
Discussed
Staff and members discussed open space, design standards, building height, setbacks, walkways and land uses for the proposed Jordan River Fairpark (JRF) District (about 93 acres near 1500 West North Temple). Straw polls, all in favor of those present: keep the city standard of 10% open space and note the applicant's intent to provide up to 18% with emphasis on accessibility (Council Member Young absent); require design standards for public streets in the area while removing the stadium and Jordan River from that requirement (Young absent); adopt staff language barring buildings over 60 feet unless the FAA issues a determination of no hazard to air navigation; a maximum setback of 15 feet from streets and publicly accessible open spaces; and 20-foot minimum mid-block walkways for buildings over 200 feet. On allowing extra height above 200 feet with a 500-square-foot minimum open space requirement, six members were in favor and Council Member Lopez Chavez was undecided. All present also supported staff's definition of flex space, to be handled in the development agreement rather than zoning.
- Applicant: Snell & Wilmer, representing Larry H. Miller Development
Item 3 · Zoning
Zoning map amendment at 333 West 700 South
Discussed
The Council was briefed on a request to rezone the General Commercial (CG) portion of a split-zoned parcel to D-2 (Downtown Support) so the whole parcel has one designation. Planning staff covered the request, zoning comparisons and the Planning Commission and staff recommendations. The petitioner is TAG SLC for property owner Bestway Investors, LLC.
- Applicant: TAG SLC for Bestway Investors, LLC
- Current zone → proposed: CG → D-2 (partial)
- Council District 4
Item 4 · Zoning
Zoning map amendment at 238 South Concord Street and 1255 West Pierpont Avenue
Discussed
The Council was briefed on a request to rezone two properties totaling 0.25 acres, with one single-family home, from R-1/5,000 single-family residential to RMF-30 low-density multi-family residential. The stated intent is to build five to seven family-sized units. The owner, the applicant, told the Council the zone was greatly needed in the area and expressed enthusiasm for infill development.
- Applicant: the applicant, property owner
- Acres: 0.25
- Current zone → proposed: R-1/5,000 → RMF-30
- Council District 2
Item 5 · Contract
$250,000 Economic Development Loan Fund loan to GK Folks Foundation
Discussed
The Council was briefed on a $250,000 loan to GK Folks Foundation, a nonprofit for African immigrants and refugees, to create a community events center. The loan is meant to support two new jobs in the next year and one retained job.
- Payment$250,000 to GK Folks Foundation
Item 6 · Contract
$250,000 Economic Development Loan Fund loan to HK Brewing Collective, LLC
Discussed
The Council was briefed on a $250,000 loan to HK Brewing Collective, LLC, which makes non-alcoholic kombucha and runs a taproom. The loan is meant to support ten new jobs in the next year and retain twenty.
- Payment$250,000 to HK Brewing Collective, LLC
Item 8 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 2, fiscal year 2024-25
Discussed
Staff briefed the Council on the amendment, which would create a fund for the Capital City Downtown Revitalization Zone sales tax, add 12 police officers partly funded by a federal COPS grant, record a University of Utah donation tied to a baseball stadium at Sunnyside Park, and fund city vehicles. Straw polls in favor, by those present: A-1, $3.9 million one-time from fund balance for additional fleet vehicles (Council Members Puy and Young absent); A-3, the COPS hiring grant for two sergeants and 10 officers ($1 million from the nondepartmental holding account and $617,673 from general fund balance, of which $689,953 is ongoing), including $787,000 for police vehicles and early job advertising (Puy and Young absent); and A-4, $877,832 one-time from fund balance, of which $498,692 is ongoing, for vehicles, equipment and officer costs not covered by the Homeless Shelter Cities state mitigation grant (Puy absent). Transportation staff described four state-grant projects: the Neighborhood Byway (Jordan Meadows and Westpointe), 200 South Transit Corridor, West Temple Bike Transit Connections and the 400 South Viaduct Trail and Art. Council-added items included City Hall security, a $1.24 million federal-grant local match, $350,000 for the Ivory University House student housing project and the utility fee waiver.
- Purchase$3.90 million
- Grant$1.62 million
- Budget$877,832
Item 9 · Other
2025 annual meeting calendar
Discussed
Members and staff reviewed and discussed availability for the draft 2025 calendar for the Council, Redevelopment Agency and Board of Canvassers.
Item 12 · Other
Closed sessions
Approved · 6-0
The Council voted 7-0 to enter closed session A for attorney-client matters (2:35 to 3:20 p.m.), 7-0 to exit, 6-0 to enter closed session B for collective bargaining strategy and attorney-client matters (Council Member Puy absent from that vote), and 7-0 to exit. Session B ended at 6:45 p.m.
What residents said
Open spaceBuilding heightSetbacksHomeless winter shelter