HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Provided Information - 4/15/2025CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY
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COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL of SALT LAKE CITY
TO:City Council Members
FROM:Brian Fullmer
Policy Analyst
DATE:April 15, 2025
RE: Yalecrest – Upper Yale Local Historic District
PLNHLC2023-00571
BRIEFING UPDATE
During the March 4, 2025 briefing Council Members discussed with Planning staff the benefits and
differences between local historic districts (LHDs), and properties on the National Register of Historic
Places. Buildings within LHDs have some protections against demolition that are not available to those on
the National Register. This is one of the few tools the City has to prevent demolition of historic structures.
Some tax incentives are available to owners of properties on the National Register. Planning also noted
LHDs help preserve neighborhood character while also allowing internal interior dwelling units, or exterior
units provided they meet regulations of the LHD overlay. They further stated there is potential to construct
infill projects utilizing affordable housing incentives within LHDs.
Council Members discussed the competing goals of preservation and increasing affordable housing. Tools
to preserve historic structures could also be used to prevent change that would allow families who
otherwise could not afford it to move into some neighborhoods.
It was noted that creating LHDs is a difficult, expensive, and time-consuming process. Council Members
expressed interest in a policy discussion on how to support eligible neighborhoods that would like to create
an LHD but do not have the resources to go through the process. Planning staff stated the Mayor or City
Council can initiate the LHD process, which differs somewhat from those initiated by residents. It is
important to note that a City initiated LHD would still need resident support to be finalized.
Following the meeting, staff checked with Planning and learned if the Council wanted to initiate an LHD
the process could begin with a legislative intent. The process would then largely be the same as resident
Item Schedule:
Briefing: March 4, 2025
Set Date: March 25, 2025
Public Hearing: April 15, 2025
Potential Action: May 6, 2025
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initiated LHDs, though City staff would complete the several steps outlined below in the bulleted list and
flow chart.
The following information was provided for the March 4, 2025 Council briefing. It is
included again for background purposes.
ISSUE AT A GLANCE
The Council will be briefed about the proposed Upper Yale Local Historic District (LHD) in the Yalecrest
neighborhood, including progress since the December 5, 2023 work session report from planning.. The
Council will then have a public hearing and consider action on the LHD request.
Boundaries of the proposed Upper Yale LHD are 1800 to 1900 East on both sides of Yale Avenue as shown
in the map below. The proposed LHD boundaries include 24 properties with homes.
Creating an LHD amends the zoning map by applying the H-Historic Overlay District to the proposed area,
which is a step that requires City Council approval. Council review, public hearing, and vote are the final
steps in the process.
The Historic Landmark and Planning Commissions reviewed the proposal at their June 5
and June 26, 2024 meetings respectively, and held public hearings. Both Commissions
followed Planning staff’s recommendation and voted unanimously to forward positive
recommendations to the City Council to create the LHD.
On January 8, 2025 the Planning Commission reviewed a recommendation from Planning
staff to update the reconnaissance level survey for the subject area in which three homes
were incorrectly identified as non-contributing. The Commission voted unanimously to
forward a positive recommendation to the City Council to change the status of those
properties to contributing. (The Historic Landmark Commission voted on the survey update
matter at their previous meeting on June 5, 2024.)
Goal of the briefing: To review the proposed local historic district, address questions Council Members
may have and prepare for a public hearing and decision.
POLICY QUESTIONS
1. The Council may wish to ask for more information about whether establishing a Historic District
will conflict with other Citywide policies, such as the upcoming R-1 residential district
consolidation.
2. In the past, the creation of Historic Districts created some discussion among constituents with
opposing perspectives. The Council may wish to ask the Administration whether they have received
any concerns or anticipate any substantive objections.
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Proposal Upper Yale local historic district outlined in red.
Other local historic districts in the vicinity are shaded in blue.
Image courtesy of Salt Lake City Planning Division
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
There are several steps to LHD creation as outlined below and in a graphic at the end of this report.
LHD Creation Process
Pre-application meeting.
Initial letter mailed to all property owners within proposed district.
Application submittal.
Notice of application letter mailed.
Planning Director’s report to the City Council (December 5, 2023)
Property owner meeting seeking input from and informing owners about the process and
requirements.
Open house seeking input from and informing immediate neighborhood and general public about
the proposal.
Historic Landmark Commission public hearing, review, and recommendation.
Planning Commission public hearing, review, and recommendation.
Property owner ballot to determine support of LHD creation.
City Council review, public hearing, and decision. (Current step)
A 2005 Reconnaissance Level Survey (RLS) of the Yalecrest National Historic District area found that 19 of
the 24 homes (~79%) within the proposed Upper Yale LHD were rated as contributing structures. In June
2023 staff from the City Planning Division and State Historic Preservation Office met to review the 2005
RLS. They confirmed the 19 homes listed as “contributing” on the RLS retain that status. They also
identified 3 homes were incorrectly identified as “non-contributing” and found the 3 homes’ rating should
be changed to “contributing.” If the City Council adopts the draft ordinance that includes these properties
22 of the 24 structures in the proposed LHD (~92%) would be listed as “contributing.”
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Reconnaissance Level Surveys are the most basic approach for systematically documenting and evaluating
historic buildings and are based on a visual evaluation of the properties.
Following the Historic Landmark Commission and Planning Commission meetings, ballots required for
LHD creation were mailed August 5, 2024 ,to all property owners within the proposed Upper Yale LHD.
Owners were given 30 days to return their ballots indicating support of, or opposition to the proposal. The
City Recorder issued the Official Canvas of the Property Owner Opinion Ballot September 12, 2024, which
contained the following results:
Ballots in Support ...............................13
Ballots Opposed...............................3
Did Not Vote ..........................................8
Undeliverable/Did Not Receive ......0
Returned but Did Not Vote .............0
Returned After Due Date.................0
Total Ballots Returned..........16 of 24
Since the number of returned property owner opinion ballots (66%) equals the required two-thirds
threshold of ballots mailed, and ballots in support (54%) represents more than 50% of the number of
parcels in the proposed LHD, the City Council may designate the LHD by a simple majority vote. It should
be noted that the Council is not bound by the property owners’ opinion ballot results.
PROJECT CHRONOLOGY
Below is a chronology for the proposed LHD with steps in the flowchart below indicated.
May 25, 2023 – Pre-application meeting. (Step 1)
June 12, 2023 – Property owners sent a notice and a “Local Historic District Pros and Cons”
informational letter indicating that the Planning Division had been notified by a property owner of
interest in creating a new local historic district. (Step 2)
July 18, 2023 – LHD application submitted to Planning Division. (Step 3)
August 11, 2023 – Property owners were sent a notice of application and “Local Historic District
Pros and Cons” information letter indicating that the Planning Division had received an
application, including the required number of signatures to initiate the designation of a new local
historic district. (Step 4)
December 5, 2023 – Planning Director’s report to the City Council. The Council directed Planning
staff to move forward processing the proposed new LHD. (Step 5)
January 30/March 18, 2024 – Property owners sent notice for the required neighborhood
information meeting to be held February 21 and April 1, 2024. (Step 6)
February 21/April 1, 2024 – Property owner meetings held at Anderson Foothill Library.
Approximately 13 property owners attended. (Step 6)
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April 4, 2024 – Property owners and residents within 300 feet of the proposed LHD mailed online
open house notification. Open house ran from April 40May 20, 2024. (Step 6)
April 9, 2024 – Email sent to Yalecrest Neighborhood Council, Foothill-Sunnyside Community
Organization, and KEEPYalecrest with online open house notification. (Step 6)
May 23, 2024 – Historic Landmark Commission public hearing notice sent to property owners and
residents within 300 feet of the proposed LHD. Listserv notification of the Historic Landmark
Commission’s agenda emailed. Agenda posted on the Planning Division and State websites. (Step 7)
June 5, 2024 – Historic Landmark Commission briefing and public hearing. The Commission
voted unanimously to forward a positive recommendation to the City Council. (Step 7)
June 12, 2024 – Planning Commission public hearing notice mailed to all property owners and
residents within 300 feet of the proposed LHD. Listserv notification of the Planning Commission
agenda emailed. Agenda posted on the Planning Division and State websites. (Step 7)
June 26, 2024 – Planning Commission briefing and public hearing. The Commission voted
unanimously to forward a positive recommendation to the City Council on the proposed LHD.
(Step 7)
August 5, 2024 – Property Owner Opinion Ballot (Support Survey) mailed to all property owners
within the proposed LHD asking if they support or are opposed to the proposed LHD. Ballots were
required to be returned to the City Recorder’s Office or postmarked by September 3, 2024. (Step 8)
September 12, 2024 – City Recorder’s Office released results of the survey. 13 property owners were
in support, 3 were opposed, and 8 did not vote. (Step 8)
October 8, 2024 – Planning staff requested ordinance from the City Attorney’s Office.
November 5, 2024 – Planning received ordinance from the City Attorney’s Office.
December 23, 2024 – Planning Commission public hearing notice for updated RLS ratings mailed
to all property owners and residents within 300 feet of the proposed LHD. Listserv notification of
the Planning Commission agenda emailed. Agenda posted on the Planning Division and State
websites. (Step 7)
January 8, 2024 – Item returned to Planning Commission for a recommendation on the 2005
Yalecrest RLS historic status rating updates. The Commission voted unanimously to forward a
positive recommendation to the City Council to update the survey.
January 21, 2025 – Planning staff requested ordinance that includes the RLS updates from the City
Attorney’s Office.
February 14, 2025 – Planning received updated ordinance from the City Attorney’s Office.
February 21, 2025 – Transmittal received in City Council Office.
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March 4, 2025 – City Council briefing. (Public hearing anticipated to be held April 15, 2025, and a
potential Council vote May 6, 2025.) (Step 9)
LHD Designation Process Flowchart
Image courtesy of Salt Lake City Planning Division