HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Provided Information - 7/8/2025COUNCIL STAFF
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL of SALT LAKE CITY
TO:City Council Members
FROM: Nick Tarbet, Policy Analyst
DATE:July 8, 2025
RE:Mixed-Use Zoning Consolidation
PLNPCM2024-00707
PROJECT TIMELINE:
Briefing 1: February 4, 2025
Briefing 2: April 8, 2025
Briefing 3: April 15, 2025
Briefing 4: July 1, 2025
Set Date: April 1, 2025
Public Hearing: May 6, 2025
Public Hearing Continued:
July 1, 2025
Potential Action: July 8, 2025
July 1 WORK SESSION AND CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING SUMMARY
During the work session the Council supported the straw polls outlined in the table below and held a
longer discussion about including a 6-month transitional period.
This concept of a transitional period would allow developers to choose whether to complete their
projects under the current zoning or under the new MU zoning. The goal is to provide flexibility for
projects already underway, enabling them to either secure existing entitlements or use the new
regulations once adopted. However, during the briefing the Attorney's Office raised concerns about
the legality of this transitional concept and asked to have some time to review the concept.
The Attorney's Office reviewed the proposed transitional period concept and has
advised against including it in the final ordinance. Their reasoning is that because the
consolidation requires extensive text revisions and property rezonings that are inherently conflicting,
they cannot be applied simultaneously.
As an alternative the The City Council could implement a delayed effective date for the new MU code.
This would allow developers with ongoing projects sufficient time to finalize them under the existing
regulations. However, some developers have urged the Council to adopt the new regulations quickly so
they can proceed with their projects under the new code as soon as possible.
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The Council will hold a follow-up work session briefing on July 8 to discuss the Attorney's Office's
recommendations regarding the transitional period. The Council may consider adopting the ordinance
during the formal meeting on the same day.
During the public hearing many people spoke in opposition to the ordinance. Many of the comments
reflected the same concerns raised at the first public hearing such as the impact to adjacent properties
from reduced setbacks, impact to historic properties and the loss of existing manufacturing space. The
Council closed the public hearing and deferred action to a future council meeting.
Issue Yes
1
Sugar House Setback / Stepbacks
Does the Council wish to include any of the potential changes
Planning provided pertaining to the Upper Floor Step Back in the
Sugar House Business District.
Option #1 - Require a 10' step back after 30' of height (the first full
floor over 30') when along a right-0f-way less than 90' in width for
the MU-8 and MU-11 zones.
Yes
Include option #1
2
Rezone for Midas and Snelgrove blocks
Does the Council still wish to rezone the properties to MU-8 or to go
with Planning’s original proposal of MU5 and MU-6?
YES
Stay with MU-8
3
Transition area / 700 West
Does the Council wish to include the additional conditional and
permitted uses in the Transitional Overlay in the final ordinance?
YES
Adding the new
permitted/conditional
uses
4
Green Street / Strip Mall
Does the Council wish to include the any of the following options in
the final ordinance?
Rezone the parcels on the east side of Green Street MU-6
Rezone the parcels on the east side of Green Street MU-3
YES
Rezone the parcels on
the east side of Green
Street MU-3
5
Transition Period
Does the Council support including a 3-month transition period for
the ordinance?
YES
Subject to the
Attorney’s Office
confirming a
transitional period is
legal
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Legislative Actions
During the straw poll process, the Council approved including the following Legislative Actions at the
time of adoption of the ordinance. One of the motions references these for potential adoption.
Interior Block Study
o Request the administration review interior blocks that were studied as part of the
zoning consolidation, with narrow streets and have single family structures, and
consider proposing a downzone for these properties.
Update the Central Community Master Plan.
o Request the Administration to analyze review and update parts of the Central City
Master plan related to the State Street corridor with the goal of rezoning parcels to a
higher density MU zoning district.
On-street Parking Concerns
o Review the City’s parking policies and ordinances regarding on-street parking pressure
caused by new developments. Provide recommendations that address the impact on
neighborhoods, aligning with the administration's options and the Council's support as
outlined in Straw Poll #15
The following information was provided for the July 1 work session and continued
public hearing. It is provided again for background purposes.
During the May 6 public hearing many residents spoke about the proposed zoning amendments. Some
expressed concerns about taller buildings, the possible displacement of current residents or
businesses, lack of enforcement, smaller rear yard spaces, lower property values, and the potential loss
of manufacturing space. Others supported the proposal because it could allow for taller buildings and
more housing options.
Due to questions raised at the public hearing, the Council continued it to a future date so the Council
could receive additional information. Since the hearing, Council Members have met with planning
staff to discuss the questions and comments raised.
Based on those discussions, Planning staff sent an updated memo, Attachment A - Mixed-Use Zoning
Consolidation Public Hearing Responses, which responds to many of the questions raised and
provides recommendations for some potential changes to the ordinance. Not all of the questions
required potential changes to the final ordinance. The questions which require direction from the
Council are noted in the section below titled, Question for Council Direction.
During the July 1 briefing, the Council will review the responses from Planning and may direct staff to
make changes to the final ordinance. The continued public hearing will also be on July 1st. If the
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Council is ready to adopt the ordinance on July 1, the Council could close the public hearing and adopt
the ordinance that night.
Public Hearing Responses – topic list
1.Upper Floor Step backs from Local Historic Landmark Sites
2.Off-Street Parking Requirement Impacts on Neighborhoods
3.Setbacks Next to Residential Zones
4.Additional Height in Sugar House and Transit Infrastructure Adequacy
5.Upper Floor Step Back in the Sugar House Business District
6.Snelgrove and Midas Blocks Upzone Development Agreement Potential
7.Allowing Pharmacies with Drive-Throughs
8.Existing Business Concerns with 700 West M-1 Rezoning to MU-6
9.Green Street Strip Mall Rezone
Question for Council Direction
a.Revise the step back requirement to generally match the existing Sugar House standard
but apply only to narrower rights-of-way under 90' in width.
i.Require a 10' step back after 30' of height (the first full floor over 30') when
along a right-0f-way less than 90' in width for the MU-8 and MU-11 zones.
ii.This would apply the Sugar House stepback on all the CSHBD-1 streets (except
along the 2100 South Monument Plaza where the right-of-way is wider) and
most mid-block streets in other MU-8/11 zoned areas of the city.
b.Revise the stepback threshold from 85' down to 45'. o Require a 10' stepback after 45'
of height (first full floor over 45’) on any width street for the MU-8 and MU-11 zones. o
This would increase the height threshold for Sugar House (putting a step at the 5th
story instead of the 3rd/4th story) and would apply to all MU-8/11 zoned streets,
including the 2100 South Monument Plaza.
c.Implement a geographically specific stepback in the Sugar House additional height area
(McClelland to 1300 East, 2100 S to I-80).
Does the Council wish to make any changes based on the options provided by
Planning Staff?
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owners could submit a petition to rezone their properties to MU-8, at during which, the
Council could seek a development agreement with the developers.
Does the Council still wish to rezone the properties to MU-8 or to go with
Planning’s original proposal of MU5 and MU-6?
3. Existing Business Concerns with 700 West M-1 Rezoning to MU-6
a. Staff is proposing to allow three additional uses in the Transitional Overlay as
“Conditional Uses” to accommodate some additional potential uses and ensure that
common commercial uses in the area won’t become nonconforming. These include
Outdoor Storage, Equipment Rental (Outdoor), and Contractor’s Yard (Outdoor).
Contractor’s Yard/Office (Indoor) is also proposed to be revised to “Permitted.”
Does the Council wish to include the additional conditional and permitted uses
in the Transitional Overlay in the final ordinance?
4.Green Street Strip Mall Rezone
a.The Council’s straw poll on April 15, 2025, supported changing the FB-UN1 zone to
MU-6, which would allow for commercial and residential development up to six stories
in height. However, if the Council is concerned about potential height impacts to the
residential properties across the street, the Council could instead rezone the property to
MU-3, which would allow commercial and residential development up to three stories
in height. Either zone would eliminate the nonconforming and noncomplying issues for
the strip mall and limit the impacts to the residential properties on Green Street.
Does the Council wish to include the any of the following options in the final
ordinance?
Rezone the parcels on the east side of Green Street to MU-6
Rezone the parcels on the east side of Green Street MU-3
5. The Council supported establishing a transition period for the ordinance that allows
developers to finish their permit with either the old standards or to go with the new once. The
Council was fine with 3-6 months. Planning staff recommends the transition period be 3
months.
Does the Council support including a 3-month transition period for the
ordinance?
Legislative Actions
During the straw poll process, the Council approved including the following Legislative Actions at the
time of adoption of the ordinance. One of the motions references these for potential adoption.
Interior Block Study
o Request the administration review interior blocks that were studied as part of the
zoning consolidation, with narrow streets and have single family structures, and
consider proposing a downzone for these properties.
Page | 6
Update the Central Community Master Plan.
o Request the Administration to analyze review and update parts of the Central City
Master plan related to the State Street corridor with the goal of rezoning parcels to a
higher density MU zoning district.
On-street Parking Concerns
o Review the City’s parking policies and ordinances regarding on-street parking pressure
caused by new developments. Provide recommendations that address the impact on
neighborhoods, aligning with the administration's options and the Council's support as
outlined in Straw Poll #15
The following information was provided for the May 6 public hearing. It is provided
again for background purposes.
APRIL 15 WORK SESSION SUMMARY
The Council reviewed the remaining straw polls (#12-21) during the April 15 briefing. The responses
are capture in the table below.
The public hearing is scheduled for May 6.
Straw Polls results from the April 8 and 15, work session discussions.
Issue Yes No
1
Allow drive through facilities for financial intuitions in Sugar House districts.
Yes
2
Allow up to 150’ in Sugar House area (south of 2100 south, 1300 E
McClelland to freeway). MU11 type height (with the addition of the
conditions outlined in the Granary Area sections)
Yes
3
Change max height for row house in MU-5 and above to 45 feet
Yes
4
Clarify language to allow for “vertical stacking” in row houses.
Request to include the change below
DWELLING, ROW HOUSE: A series of attached single-family dwellings that
share at least one common wall with an adjacent dwelling unit and where the
entry of each unit faces a public street. Units may be stacked vertically and/or
attached horizontally. Each attached unit may be on its own lot.
Yes
Page | 7
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Proposed Chage: “DWELLING, ROW HOUSE: A series of attached single-
family dwellings residential units that share…
5
Remove language that requires roof pitch / height be similar to adjacent
properties in MU-3. Proposed removing this in MU-3
Staff proposes removing this in MU-2 and MU-3
Yes
6a
Standardizing setback for similar zones
Urban House/Two-Family/Cottage
1.Open Space: Revise all to 10% open space with 20% vegetation
Yes
6b
Row House
1.Front/corner side yard (min.)
MU-2/3: Maintain 5 ft in both, merge additional language about
landscaping and hardscape.
2.Front/corner side yard (max.)
MU-2/3: Eliminate maximum for MU-3 to match MU-2
3.Rear Yard
MU-11: Make consistent with MU-5/6/8, by increasing MU-11 to
10'
4.Open Space Area (min)
ALL 10% OS / 20% vegetation
Yes to all
6c
Vertical Mixed Use, Storefront and Multi-family
1.Front/corner Side Yard min
MU2, MU3: Make both consistent, apply the 5' min. MU-2 standard
to MU-3.
MU5, MU-6-MU- 8: Make all consistent, apply the variable use
based 0' to 10' setback in MU-5/6 to MU-8.
2.Front /Corner Side Yard (max)
MU-2/3: No Max
MU-5/6/8: Apply MU-5/6 setback to MU-8.
3.Rear Yard: Merge rear yard language for MU-2/3.
4.Open Space Area (min)
ALL 10% OS / 20% vegetation
Yes to all
7
Add “Contractor’s Yard/Office (Indoor)” use to the Transitional Overlay as a
Conditional Use.
o Staff recommends including this use.
Yes
8 Areas unintentionally included as requiring activity use due to a code
provision in the recently adopted MU-8 code. Yes
Page | 8
o Staff recommends removing “Richard Street, from Harvard Avenue
to Kelsey Avenue” as an area requiring an “Enhanced Active Ground
Floor Use.”
o 400 South, located between 500 West (start of rail overpass) and the
I-15 interchange (~800 West), was unintentionally included in the
requirement for a high activity use. Staff recommends excluding this
area from the use requirement due to poor viability
9
Delete the requirement for a 6' walkway between multiple buildings that are
over 75' in façade length.
o Staff recommends deleting this requirement
Yes
10
Add a prohibition on mature coverage counting toward the required park
strip vegetation coverage of 33% in MU-8 and MU-11.
o Staff recommends applying the requirement to other high-intensity
MU zones, the MU-8 and MU-11
Yes
11
Add a transition period to the MU zone adoption.
o Staff recommends that the City Council include a transition period of
3-6 months where developers could still utilize the prior regulations.
Yes
The Council reviewed items 12- 21 during the
April 15 work session briefing
12
Modify the height limit for "private directional signs" from 4' to 8'.
o Staff recommends increasing the height so that private parking
related signs can be at eye level.
Yes
13
Include the proposed mapping changes
o Staff recommends including the following changes in the final draft.
o FB-UN2 Corners to MU-6 in Central 9th
o Residential/Office (RO) Zone to MU-8 East Downtown
and West Temple
o Green Street/2100 South
o Federal Property at 2100 S/Redwood Road
Yes to all
14
Modifications to 21A.10 public hearing notices to better match changes to
State code that were adopted this legislative session. Planning staff included
some changes to 21A.10 in the consolidation to address what the state code
Yes
Page | 9
referred to as geographic areas and that cities could define what that meant.
This year, the state introduced “ministerial” code changes that do not have to
include mailed notices that the city would want to include in that section.
15
Parking options from Planning Staff
a.Any multi-family project over a certain number of dwellings could be
required to include a mix of dwelling sizes. An example could include
requiring any development with over 20 units to provide at least 25%
of the units with 2 or more bedrooms. This would limit a
concentration of micro-units in any given area and promote more
family sized housing. It would require a text amendment and
consideration for applying it to any zone that allows larger apartment
buildings and buildings four stories or greater.
b.Mico-unit projects over a certain number of dwellings could be
required to have a parking minimum to help alleviate on-street
parking pressures. An example could include a micro-unit project
with over 25 dwellings be required to have a .5 parking ratio. This
would require a text amendment and consideration for applying it to
any zone that allows larger apartment buildings and buildings four
stories or greater.
c.A requirement could be added that buildings be limited to 30' in
height if the existing ROW does not satisfy aerial fire access
requirements and no modifications to park strips, on street parking,
etc. are allowed. Or, the City’s consideration of removing on-street
parking would only be allowed for projects that meet certain policy
objectives such as affordable housing or family-sized housing. This
could help reduce the expectation that property owners have about
what can be built on their property and can address the perception
that modifying the right of way by removing on street parking,
narrowing a park strip, or removing street trees is essentially a public
asset that is being “given” to a developer.
d.If a project is required to remove on-street parking to comply with fire
code, the project could be required to provide the same number of
parking stalls on-site, with the City recording a public easement to
ensure that the parking stalls are available to the public and posted
accordingly. Consideration should be given to the impact providing
parking has on affordable housing, with possible exceptions for
certain types of residential uses. This would require resources for
enforcement.
Yes to
legislative
intent
16 Request from the Public Yes
Page | 10
o Request to rezone property MU-8 instead of MU-5 for some parcels
on North Temple. The constituent feels the MU-8 is better aligned
with the project they would like to do.
o Located at approximately 69, 59, 53, and 51 N Chicago, 955, 963, 973
North Temple and 62 North 1000 West.
o Addition: supported extending the MU-6 designation
to 1000 West.
17
Request from the Public
Add kennel as permitted use
o Current zoning allows a veterinary clinic which they plan to include.
The constituent feels adding "animal kennel" to the zone would
provide additional clarity so they can operate seamlessly without
regulatory concerns.
o Planning Staff recommends adding as Conditional to MU2/3/5 to
match MU-6/8/11 if the Council would like to make the use allowed
Yes, as
conditional
use
18a
Legislative Actions
Request the administration review interior blocks that were studied as part of
the zoning consolidation, with narrow streets and have single family
structures, and consider proposing a downzone for these properties.
Yes
18b
Legislative Actions
Request the Administration to analyze review and update parts of the Central
City Master plan related to the State Street corridor with the goal of rezoning
parcels to a higher density MU zoning district.
Yes
Items 19-21 added after 4.8.2025 Briefing
19
MU-11 Additional Height Options – Planning Staff Request
a.Planning Staff would like to clarify two of the options allowed for 25'
of additional height in the MU-11 zone in the Granary and Sugar
House:
o Revise the language from “100% ground floor commercial use” to the
zoning term “100% ground floor Enhanced Active Use”
o Revise the term “affordable housing” to “affordable housing in
compliance with the Affordable Housing Incentives (21A.52.050)”
b.Planning Staff would like to verify whether the Council prefers to
allow those developments to get a total of 61' of additional height
using only the “Affordable Housing Incentives,” going from 125' to
Yes to all
Page | 11
186'. Or whether the Council would prefer those developments reaching that
height also include one of the other options as well – a 20' midblock walkway
or 100% ground floor enhanced active uses.
20
Constituent request for the following parcels be considered for zoning to the
MU-8 (Mixed-Use, High-Density) designation.
Approximately 1435 S State Street, Parcels: 103-015 / 103-011 / 103-014 /
103-006 totaling 1.54 acres located
Yes
21
Council Member Young Addition from April 15.
Rezone properties along 2100 south to MU-8.
Midas Block: 2100 S to Redondo Ave 900 E to Windsor (next to IHC
Clinic)
Snelgrove Properties - 2100 South 900/800 East to Commonwealth
Ave
Yes
The following information was provided for the April 15, 2025, work session briefing.
APRIL 8 WORK SESSION SUMMARY
During the Council’s April 8 briefing, the Council went over the first eleven straw polls, which
indicated support for each of those recommendations.
The Council will have a follow-up briefing on April 15 at which time the rest of the straw polls will be
considered. The public hearing is set for May 6.
Straw Poll Results from 4.8.2025 Briefing
Issue Yes No
1 Allow drive through facilities for financial intuitions in Sugar House
districts.X
2
Allow up to 150’ in Sugar House area (south of 2100 south, 1300 E
McClelland to freeway). MU11 type height (with the addition of the
conditions outlined in the Granary Area sections)X
3 Change max height for row house in MU-5 and above to 45 feet X
4
Page | 12
Clarify language to allow for “vertical stacking” in row houses.
Request to include the change below
DWELLING, ROW HOUSE: A series of attached single-family
dwellings that share at least one common wall with an adjacent
dwelling unit and where the entry of each unit faces a public
street. Units may be stacked vertically and/or attached
horizontally. Each attached unit may be on its own lot.
Proposed Chage: “DWELLING, ROW HOUSE: A series of
attached single-family dwellings residential units that share…
X
5
Remove language that requires roof pitch / height be similar to
adjacent properties in MU-3. Proposed removing this in MU-3
Staff proposes removing this in MU-2 and MU-3 X
6a
Standardizing setback for similar zones
Urban House/Two-Family/Cottage
1. Open Space: Revise all to 10% open space with 20%
vegetation
X
6b
Row House
1. Front/corner side yard (min.)
MU-2/3: Maintain 5 ft in both, merge additional
language about landscaping and hardscape.
2. Front/corner side yard (max.)
MU-2/3: Eliminate maximum for MU-3 to match MU-2
3. Rear Yard
MU-11: Make consistent with MU-5/6/8, by increasing
MU-11 to 10'
4. Open Space Area (min)
ALL 10% OS / 20% vegetation
X
6c
Vertical Mixed Use, Storefront and Multi-family
1. Front/corner Side Yard min
MU2, MU3: Make both consistent, apply the 5' min.
MU-2 standard to MU-3.
Page | 13
MU5, MU-6-MU- 8: Make all consistent, apply the
variable use based 0' to 10' setback in MU-5/6 to MU-8.
2. Front /Corner Side Yard (max)
MU-2/3: No Max
MU-5/6/8: Apply MU-5/6 setback to MU-8.
3. Rear Yard: Merge rear yard language for MU-2/3.
4. Open Space Area (min)
ALL 10% OS / 20% vegetation
X
7
Add “Contractor’s Yard/Office (Indoor)” use to the Transitional
Overlay as a Conditional Use.
o Staff recommends including this use.
X
8
Areas unintentionally included as requiring activity use due to a code
provision in the recently adopted MU-8 code.
o Staff recommends removing “Richard Street, from Harvard
Avenue to Kelsey Avenue” as an area requiring an “Enhanced
Active Ground Floor Use.”
o 400 South, located between 500 West (start of rail overpass)
and the I-15 interchange (~800 West), was unintentionally
included in the requirement for a high activity use. Staff
recommends excluding this area from the use requirement due
to poor viability
X
9
Delete the requirement for a 6' walkway between multiple buildings
that are over 75' in façade length.
o Staff recommends deleting this requirement X
10
Add a prohibition on mature coverage counting toward the required
park strip vegetation coverage of 33% in MU-8 and MU-11.
o Staff recommends applying the requirement to other high-
intensity MU zones, the MU-8 and MU-11 X
11 Add a transition period to the MU zone adoption. X
Page | 14
o Staff recommends that the City Council include a transition
period of 3-6 months where developers could still utilize the
prior regulations. The Council expressed support for a 3
month flex period where developers could use either zone.
The following information was provided for the April 8, 2025, work session briefing.
FEBRUARY 4 WORK SESSION SUMMARY
During the Council’s February 4 briefing, Planning provided an overview of the zoning amendments.
Council Members asked a variety of questions about building height, setbacks, parking, design
standards, open space and potential changes to the proposed zoning map amendments. At the
briefing, some Council Members asked to meet with Planning staff to discuss details of the zoning
amendments.
Based on the briefing and follow-up meetings, the straw polls below have been prepared for the
Council to review and provide direction to staff on which to incorporate into the final draft ordinance.
The public hearing will be held on May 6.
Straw Polls
Items from Transmittal and Council Discussions
1. Allow drive through facilities for financial intuitions in Sugar House districts.
2. Allow up to 150’ in Sugar House area (south of 2100 south, 1300 E McClelland to freeway).
MU11 type height
3. Change max height for row house in MU-5 and above to 45 feet.
4. Clarify language to allow for “vertical stacking” in row houses.
Request to include the change below
DWELLING, ROW HOUSE: A series of attached single-family dwellings that share at least one
common wall with an adjacent dwelling unit and where the entry of each unit faces a public
street. Units may be stacked vertically and/or attached horizontally. Each attached unit may be
on its own lot.
Proposed Chage: “DWELLING, ROW HOUSE: A series of attached single-family dwellings
residential units that share…
5. Remove language that requires roof pitch / height be similar to adjacent properties in MU-3.
Proposed removing this in MU-3
o Staff proposes removing this in MU-2 and MU-3
6. Standardizing setback for similar zones Proposed Changes
Page | 15
a. A. Urban House/Two-Family/Cottage Open Space: Revise all to 10% open space with
20% vegetation
b. Row House
1. Front/corner side yard (min.): MU-2/3: Maintain 5 ft in both, merge additional
language about landscaping and hardscape.
2. Front/corner side yard (max.): MU-2/3: Eliminate maximum for MU-3 to
match MU-2
3. Rear Yard: MU-11: Make consistent with MU-5/6/8, by increasing MU-11 to 10'.
4. Open Space Area (min): ALL 10% OS / 20% vegetation
c. Vertical Mixed Use, Storefront and Multi-family
1. Front/corner Side Yard min
MU2, MU3: Make both consistent, apply the 5' min. MU-2 standard to
MU-3.
MU5, MU-6-MU- 8: Make all consistent, apply the variable use based 0'
to 10' setback in MU-5/6 to MU-8.
2. Front /Corner Side Yard (max)
MU-2/3: No Max
MU-5/6/8: Apply MU-5/6 setback to MU-8.
3. Rear Yard: Merge rear yard language for MU-2/3.
4. Open Space Area (min) ALL 10% OS / 20% vegetation
7. Add “Contractor’s Yard/Office (Indoor)” use to the Transitional Overlay as a Conditional Use.
1.Staff recommends including this use.
8. Areas unintentionally included as an requiring activity use due to a code provision in the
recently adopted MU-8 code.
a. Staff recommends removing “Richard Street, from Harvard Avenue to Kelsey Avenue”
as an area requiring an “Enhanced Active Ground Floor Use.”
b. 400 South, located between 500 West (start of rail overpass) and the I-15 interchange
(~800 West), was unintentionally included in the requirement for a high activity use.
Staff recommends excluding this area from the use requirement due to poor viability
9. Delete the requirement for a 6' walkway between multiple buildings that are over 75' in façade
length.
1.Staff recommends deleting this requirement
Page | 16
10. Add a prohibition on mature coverage counting toward the required park strip vegetation
coverage of 33% in MU-8 and MU-11.
1.Staff recommends applying the requirement to other high-intensity MU zones, the
MU-8 and MU-11
11. Add a transition period to the MU zone adoption.
1.Staff recommends that the City Council include a transition period of 3-6 months
where developers could still utilize the prior regulations.
12. Modify the height limit for "private directional signs" from 4' to 8'.
1.Staff recommends increasing the height so that private parking-related signs can be
at eye level.
13. Include the proposed mapping changes
1.Staff recommends including the following changes in the final draft.
FB-UN2 Corners to MU-6 in Central 9th
Residential/Office (RO) Zone to MU-8 East Downtown and West Temple
Green Street/2100 South
Federal Property at 2100 S/Redwood Road
14. Modifications to 21A.10 public hearing notices to better match changes to State code that were
adopted this legislative session. Planning staff included some changes to 21A.10 in the
consolidation to address what the state code referred to as geographic areas and that cities
could define what that meant. This year, the state introduced “ministerial” code changes that
do not have to include mailed notices that the city would want to include in that section.
15. Parking options from Planning Staff
A few Council Members met with Community and Neighborhoods (CAN) staff to discuss how
some developments create the necessity to remove some off-street parking stalls, thus
impacting the neighborhoods where they are located. Planning staff provided the following
options for the Council to consider that could address those concerns.
a. Any multi-family project over a certain number of dwellings could be required to
include a mix of dwelling sizes. An example could include requiring any development
with over 20 units to provide at least 25% of the units with 2 or more bedrooms. This
would limit a concentration of micro-units in any given area and promote more family
sized housing. It would require a text amendment and consideration for applying it to
any zone that allows larger apartment buildings and buildings four stories or greater.
b. Mico-unit projects over a certain number of dwellings could be required to have a
parking minimum to help alleviate on-street parking pressures. An example could
include a micro-unit project with over 25 dwellings be required to have a .5 parking
Page | 17
ratio. This would require a text amendment and consideration for applying it to any zone that
allows larger apartment buildings and buildings four stories or greater.
c. A requirement could be added that buildings be limited to 30' in height if the existing
ROW does not satisfy aerial fire access requirements and no modifications to park
strips, on street parking, etc. are allowed. Or, the City’s consideration of removing on-
street parking would only be allowed for projects that meet certain policy objectives
such as affordable housing or family-sized housing. This could help reduce the
expectation that property owners have about what can be built on their property and
can address the perception that modifying the right of way by removing on street
parking, narrowing a park strip, or removing street trees is essentially a public asset
that is being “given” to a developer.
d. If a project is required to remove on-street parking to comply with fire code, the project
could be required to provide the same number of parking stalls on-site, with the City
recording a public easement to ensure that the parking stalls are available to the public
and posted accordingly. Consideration should be given to the impact providing parking
has on affordable housing, with possible exceptions for certain types of residential uses.
This would require resources for enforcement.
Requests From the Public
16. Request to rezone property MU-8 instead of MU-5 for some parcels on North Temple. The
constituent feels the MU-8 is better aligned with the project they would like to do.
1. Located at approximately 69, 59, 53, and 51 N Chicago, 955 North Temple.
17. Add kennel as permitted use
1. Current zoning allows a veterinary clinic which they plan to include. The constituent
feels adding "animal kennel" to the zone would provide additional clarity so they can
operate seamlessly without regulatory concerns.
1. Planning Staff recommends adding as Conditional to MU2/3/5 to match MU-
6/8/11 if the Council would like to make the use allowed
18. Legislative Actions pertaining to zoning
a. Request the administration review interior blocks that were studied as part of the
zoning consolidation, with narrow streets and have single family structures, and
consider proposing a downzone for these properties.
b. Request the Administration to analyze review and update parts of the Central City
Master plan related to the State Street corridor with the goal of rezoning parcels to a
higher density MU zoning district.
Page | 18
The following information was provided for the February 4, 2025, work session
briefing.
ISSUE AT-A-GLANCE
The Council will receive a briefing on a proposal to update the City's zoning ordinance and zoning map by
consolidating up to 27 existing commercial, form-based, and mixed-use zoning districts into six new
mixed-use (MU) districts. The goal of these amendments is to simplify zoning regulations, improve clarity
of language, and incorporate missing design standards. The new mixed-use districts will be similar to the
current districts but will have changes to setbacks, building height, lot coverage, and permitted land uses.
Goal of the briefing: Review the proposal, including Policy Questions (p. 4), and information provided
following the planning commission discussion. Evaluate whether additional feedback needs to be
provided prior to the Council’s public hearing on March 4.
OVERVIEW OF CHANGES
The Planning transmittal includes many attachments that succinctly summarize and visualize the draft
ordinance. Council staff included them as an attachment to this memo for quick access.
Attachment A – Zoning Standards / Illustrations for the MU Zones
Attachment B – Overlay Summary for CG M1
Attachment C – Parking Regulations for MU zones
Attachment D – Neighborhood Level Maps of MU Zones
Planning staff also developed a project page that provides extensive information on the project. It is a
helpful tool for anyone looking to get a deeper understanding of the proposed zoning amendments.
Additionally, they developed an interactive map showing the new MU zones' locations throughout the city.
The Planning Commission held ten briefings on the MU consolidation project. Two public hearings were
held, and a positive recommendation was ultimately forwarded to the City Council.
Since this item was forwarded to the Council, some unrelated zoning petitions that impact a few of the
properties identified in this zoning petition were approved. The planning staff is updating the ordinance
and zoning maps to reflect those changes. Policy question #3 below provides additional background.
MORE DETAILED VIEW OF KEY CHANGES
According to the transmittal letter (page 3), “consolidating these zoning districts will change the
regulations that apply to thousands of properties within the city (approximately 6,300 directly affected
properties).”
Pages 6-11 of the Transmittal Letter include a summary of each zone, Their purpose, and general zoning
regulations. Below is a general outline of the key changes. See the Transmittal Letter and attachments for
more in-depth information on the various zones.
1. Land Use Tables
Several amendments will be made to the Land Use tables. Many of the minor amendments
to the existing tables include consolidated definitions, the removal of zoning districts being
consolidated into the new land use table, and the removal of some land uses.
2. Creates 6 new zoning districts and rezones properties to the new zoning districts.
Page | 19
Attachment A is a fact sheet outlining the zoning standards for each new district, such as height,
setbacks, building size, and design standards. The interactive map also shows the new MU zones'
locations throughout the city.
MU-2 MU-3 MU-5
Consolidated Zones
o Residential Business (RB),
o Small Neighborhood
Business (SNB)
o Neighborhood Commercial
(CN)
Consolidated Zones
o Community Business (CB)
o R-MU-35 (Residential
Mixed Use - 35)
Consolidated Zones
o Form-Based Urban
Neighborhood 2 (FB-UN2),
o Corridor Commercial (CC),
o Community Shopping (CS),
o Form-Based Special
Purpose Corridor Edge (FB-
SE),
o Residential Mixed Use 45
(R-MU-45)
o Transit Station Area
Transitional (TSA-UN-T)
o Mixed Use (MU)
o South State Street Corridor
Overlay (SSSC)
MU-6 MU-8 MU-11
Consolidated Zones
o Form-Based Urban
Neighborhood 2 (FB-UN2)
o Form Based Special
Purpose Corridor (FB-SE)
o Sugar House Business
District 2 (CSHBD-2)
o Residential Office (RO)
o Transit Station Area -
Urban Core Transition
(TSA-UC-T)
o Special Purpose Transition
(TSA-SP-T)
o Mixed Use Employment
Center Transition (TSA-
MUEC-T)
Consolidated Zones
o Residential Mixed Use
(RMU)
o Transit Station Area -
Mixed Use Employment
Center Core (TSA-MUEC-C)
o Special Purpose Core (TSA-
SP-C)
o Urban Neighborhood Core
(TSA-UN-C)
Consolidated Zones
o CG (General Commercial),
o FBMU-11 (Form-Based
Mixed-Use 11)
o TSAUC- C (Transit Station
Area Urban Center Core)
o CSHBD-1 (Sugar House
Business District)
3.Establishes the general provisions that apply to all MU zones
See Attachment A
MU Building Types
Cottage, Urban House, Two-Family
Row House
Storefront, Vertical Mixed-Use, Multi Family Residential
Page | 20
Heights
The number in the title of each district generally identifies the number of building
stories allowed by that zone. (some flexibility is granted for enhanced ground
floor uses)
Setbacks
Make consistent across the various zoning designations,
Require larger buffers and setbacks when next to a low-scale single-family/two-
family
Landscape buffers
A 10-foot landscape buffer is required when any of the MU zones abut single-
family, two-family zones, and multifamily zones
step-back requirements between higher-scale MU zones and zones under 35 feet
in height, including MU-2 and MU-3 zones,
Lots/Buildings Without Public Street Frontage
Allow lots without public street frontage. Helps with deep lot configuration
Open Space
In addition to the basic yard setback requirement, a general standard of 10% of
the lot area will be required for open space
Minimum dimension of 15’ x 15’ to ensure useability
Mid-block Walkways
All zones are proposed to require the implementation of a mid-block walkway on
a property if one has been identified in an adopted City plan.
4.Create a Transitional Overlay for M-1 and CG properties
See Attachment B for details
The zoning amendments would create a significant number of nonconforming uses.
A proposed “Transitional Overlay” would generally allow a selection of more intensive
commercial and light industrial uses in these areas, allowing for reduced design standards
while including buffer and landscaping requirements. (Click on the interactive map link to
see the transitional overlay boundaries)
POLICY QUESTIONS
1. Effective Date—In the past, when the Council adopted significant zoning amendments that
impacted many different zones and properties, a delayed effective date was included so that
projects that may be caught up in the amendments, could either finish under the current
zoning standards or use the new ordinance. Council staff received one request for the Council
to consider delayed implementation for this petition.
Does the Council support including a delayed effective date for the MU zoning
consolidation?
2. Drive-through concerns – a constituent reached out to the City about the impacts the proposed
amendment would have on a project they are working on that includes an existing drive-
through.
Page | 21
Planning staff provided the following options to address the request for consideration:
a. Modify the land use table language to allow for financial institutions to have drive-
throughs in the MU11 zone.
b. Allow the drive-through use at that location as approved through a development
agreement
o It would have to go to the Planning Commission and the City Council for
approval.
The Council may wish to discuss these options with Planning staff and, if
either option is supported, request that staff make the change in the final
ordinance.
3. Post Planning Commission updates.
After the planning commission forwarded a positive recommendation, staff noted some
technical and substantive changes that needed to be made to the draft ordinance. The planning
staff is seeking Council direction on the following items, outlined on pages 15- 16 of the
Transmittal Letter. The Council will be asked to conduct straw polls to determine if these
changes are included in the final ordinance.
a. Add “Contractor’s Yard/Office (Indoor)” use to the Transitional Overlay as a
Conditional Use.
i. Staff recommends including this use.
b. Richard Street was unintentionally included as an area requiring a high activity use due
to a code provision in the recently adopted MU-8 code.
i. Staff recommends removing “Richard Street, from Harvard Avenue to Kelsey
Avenue” as an area requiring an “Enhanced Active Ground Floor Use.”
c. Delete the requirement for a 6' walkway between multiple buildings that are over 75' in
façade length.
i. Staff recommends deleting this requirement
d. Add a prohibition on mature coverage counting toward the required park strip
vegetation coverage of 33% in MU-8 and MU-11.
i. Staff recommends applying the requirement to other high-intensity MU zones,
the MU-8 and MU-11
e. Add a transition period to the MU zone adoption (see policy question #2 above)
i. Staff recommends that the City Council include a transition period of 9 to 12
months where developers could still utilize the prior regulations.
f. Modify the height limit for "private directional signs" from 4' to 8'.
i. Staff recommends increasing the height so that private parking related signs
can be at eye level.
g. Include the proposed mapping changes on pages 16-20
Staff recommends including the following changes in the final draft.
i. FB-UN2 Corners to MU-6 in Central 9th.
ii. Residential/Office (RO) Zone to MU-8 East Downtown and West Temple.
iii. Green Street/2100 South - maintain the FB-UN1 zoning on the west part
of the property.
Page | 22
Federal Property at 2100 S/Redwood Road – leave as PL.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
1. Pages 20-23 of the Transmittal Letter outlines the public process. Starting in April 2024, the public
outreach included eight walking tours in various neighborhoods around the city, open houses,
various community events such as town halls, presentations to recognized community
organizations, and 10 briefings before the planning commission, along with 2 public hearings.