Council briefed on airport wetland sale for conservation and backs mailer on Expanding Housing Options proposal
September 8, 2026, 4:00 p.m.
In a work session the Council heard about the Department of Airports' plan to sell about 900 acres of surplus wetland to the Utah Department of Natural Resources after a conservation easement to Utah Open Lands, airport EV charging, and the Expanding Housing Options zoning proposal. All Council Members present backed a straw poll to mail information to every address in the affected zones after the Planning Commission acts. The Council then voted 6-0 to recess, convene a limited formal meeting and go into a closed meeting for attorney-client matters. The minutes are marked pending and not approved.
From the draft minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 2 · Zoning
Briefing: one-year extension for conditions on 247 North 800 West rezone
Discussed
Staff described a resolution extending by one year, to September 9, 2027, the time to satisfy conditions of Ordinance 56 of 2025, which rezoned the property to R-1/5,000 and SR-3. The applicant said Fire Code issues affected the project and discussed the timeline for meeting the conditions. Council Member Alejandro Puy said the extension would be considered at the limited formal meeting that evening.
- Original zoning: R-1/5,000 (Single-Family) and SR-3 (Special Development Pattern Residential)
Item 3 · Parks
Briefing: sale of about 900 acres of airport wetland mitigation land and conservation easement
Discussed
The Department of Airports proposed that the city dispose of about 900 acres of surplus wetland acquired with FAA grant funds to offset wetland impacts of the 1990s west runway expansion at Salt Lake City International Airport. The city would first grant a conservation easement to Utah Open Lands, with the council considering waiving the price for the easement, and then sell the land to the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Two separate processes are required: a public benefits analysis and a public hearing on disposition of a significant parcel. Council Members and staff discussed keeping sale proceeds with the Airport and possible use for future projects including the center runway extension, limits on development under the easement (a small maintenance facility but no major structures), protections if the land were later rezoned, and wetland management. A hearing was set for October 6 with tentative Council action October 20.
- Land dealAmount not given to Utah Department of Natural Resources
- Buyer: Utah Department of Natural Resources (waterfowl management area)
- Easement holder: Utah Open Lands
Item 4 · Roads and utilities
Briefing: public EV charging fees at the airport
Discussed
The Department of Airports recommended keeping EV charging free for travelers. Staff described the airport's public, employee, fleet and ground-equipment chargers and a plan to expand Level 1 charging in long-term parking while keeping Level 2 in higher-turnover areas. Average public charging sessions last about 3.97 days. Council Members discussed demand, whether fees could encourage turnover, costs and maintenance, and confirmed there are no public Level 3 chargers.
Item 5 · City code
Briefing: Expanding Housing Options zoning text amendment
Discussed
Planning staff updated the Council on a Council-initiated zoning text amendment that would set small-lot dwelling standards, change base zoning and flag lot rules in affected residential zones, with a 1,200-square-foot dwelling size and 2,000-square-foot lot size cited. Council Members discussed the square-footage limits, concerns that the proposal could undercut affordable housing incentives or accessory dwelling unit policy or contribute to displacement, setback, height and privacy impacts (especially in the Avenues), and possible changes on rear-yard setbacks, alley-access lots, internal conversions, lot coverage and porch encroachments. Members requested a resident mailer after the Planning Commission recommendation (Wharton), plain-language outreach with a QR code survey (Petro), visual materials correcting misunderstandings (Young), a cost estimate for the mailer (Puy) and a list of housing barriers outside city authority for state legislative priorities (Young). A straw poll to mail all addresses in affected zones and add targeted digital advertising had all Council Members present in favor.
Other
Motion to recess, convene a limited formal meeting and enter a closed meeting
Approved · 6-0
The Council voted to recess the work session, convene a limited formal meeting and then go into a closed meeting for attorney-client matters. The closed meeting ran from 6:05 to 6:48 p.m., and the Council voted to exit it.
What residents said
Wetland conservation and development limitsDisplacement and affordable housing incentivesSetbacks, height and privacy in small-lot proposalAirport EV charging