Council hears zoning consolidation and alley vacation briefings; Himalayan Kitchen loan and budget changes discussed
February 4, 2025, 2:00 p.m.
In a work session, the Council received a briefing on a proposal to consolidate up to 27 commercial, form-based and mixed-use zones into six new mixed-use districts, and on an alley vacation near 300 West and Paxton Avenue. Members also heard about a $350,000 loan for Himalayan Kitchen, a billing-notice error in the downtown improvement district, state legislation and Budget Amendment No. 3.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Mixed-Use (MU) zoning consolidation text and map amendment | Discussed |
| Alley vacation near 300 West and Paxton Avenue | Discussed |
| Economic Development Loan Fund: Himalayan Kitchen | Discussed |
| Central Business Improvement Area and Board of Equalization update | Discussed |
| State legislative briefing follow-up | Discussed |
| Budget Amendment No. 3 for FY2024-25 follow-up | Discussed |
| Closed sessions | No action · 7-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item 2 · Zoning
Mixed-Use (MU) zoning consolidation text and map amendment
Discussed
Planning staff briefed the Council on a proposal to merge up to 27 commercial, form-based and mixed-use districts into six new MU districts to simplify regulations, clarify language and add missing design standards. The new districts would be similar to current ones but with changes to setbacks, height, lot coverage and uses. Staff covered public engagement, parking and signs, overlay removals, the Transitional Overlay and recommended map updates. Council Member Sarah Young asked to discuss allowing drive-throughs for financial institutions in the MU-11 zone and an exception for height up to 150 feet south of 2100 South in Sugar House. Council Member Darin Mano asked for more MU-2 and MU-3 pockets in neighborhoods in future R-1 changes, and Council Member Alejandro Puy asked for a meeting on Transit Station Area zones.
Item 3 · Other
Alley vacation near 300 West and Paxton Avenue
Discussed
Planning staff briefed the Council on vacating an L-shaped City-owned alley beginning near 268 West Paxton Avenue, with an easement from 300 West for abutting owners. The Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation; the Transportation Division recommended against. The petitioners' attorney said all owners agreed, and cited camping, crime and fires in the alley. Owners would have to buy their portions and sign the easement for the vacation to take effect. Council Member Mano asked Transportation for feedback on the latest proposal; Council Member Puy asked about possible effects on a future TRAX line east of the alley.
- Petitioner: RCB Rental Properties and Little Garage, Inc.
- Council District 5
Item 4 · Contract
Economic Development Loan Fund: Himalayan Kitchen
Discussed
The Council was briefed on a proposed $350,000 loan to Gorkha Enterprises, doing business as Himalayan Kitchen, at 1388 South 300 West, Suite 350. The loan is meant to help create 15 jobs in the next year and retain five.
- Payment$350,000 to Gorkha Enterprises (Himalayan Kitchen)
Item 5 · Other
Central Business Improvement Area and Board of Equalization update
Discussed
Staff described a software error that affected notices during re-establishment of the downtown Central Business Improvement Assessment Area (holiday lighting). They stressed transparency and preventing a repeat, and said they expected no lapse in services.
Item 9 · Other
State legislative briefing follow-up
Discussed
A City lobbyist and the City's legislative affairs director reviewed bills of concern, including HB267 (affecting over 60 percent of the City workforce represented by unions), HB355, HB333, SB26, SB181, HB368, HB118, HB329 and HB362 and renewable energy bills. Council Member Mano asked for separate meetings on land use bills.
Item 10 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 3 for FY2024-25 follow-up
Discussed
Staff said treatment of diseased sycamore trees would take several years and asked the Council to confirm $150,000 a year for two years in the annual budget. The administration asked to move positions from the Mayor's office to Community and Neighborhoods ($277,000). In straw polls, all members present supported the full-time Cybersecurity Engineer position and moving the increased City & County Building security contract to Budget Amendment No. 4. Council Member Young asked how many grant-funded positions would be affected if funding were cut.
Other
Closed sessions
No action · 7-0
The Council voted 7-0 to enter closed session for real property strategy, security deployment and attorney-client matters; because the first motion omitted a subject, it exited and re-entered under corrected motions. A later closed session on property and attorney-client matters passed 6-0 with Council Member Sarah Young absent. No action was recorded.
What residents said
State legislationSycamore tree treatment funding