Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Provided Information - 2/17/2025CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY 451 SOUTH STATE STREET, ROOM 304 P.O. BOX 145476, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84114-5476 SLCCOUNCIL.COM TEL 801-535-7600 FAX 801-535-7651 COUNCIL STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL of SALT LAKE CITY TO:City Council Members FROM:Brian Fullmer Policy Analyst DATE:February 17, 2026 RE: Disposition of Alleys and Streets Text Amendment PLNPCM2025-00423 BRIEFING UPDATE During a February 3, 2026 briefing Council Members expressed general support for the proposed text amendment. Engineering staff discussed a desire to maintain access for utility work and requested easements when alleys are vacated. The following information was provided for the February 3. 2026 briefing. It is included again for background purposes. The Council will be briefed about a text amendment initiated by the Planning Commission to modify the section of City code related to closing to public use, or vacating (relinquishing ownership) of City-owned rights of way including alleys, streets and street segments. Chapter 14.52 includes the process and standards for closing and vacating alleys but standards for closing and vacating streets have not been codified. Proposed changes will create the same process for closing streets, street segments, and alleys and updates factors that should be considered when reviewing street and alley closure applications. A notable change removes the lack of use factor for illegal or “self-inflicted” obstructions in alleys unless the applicant can demonstrate the obstruction was installed prior to April 12, 1995, the date of the last comprehensive zoning code rewrite. It is worth noting that the proposal says fences or gates blocking access at the ends of alleys should not be used to justify lack of use, regardless of when they were installed. Item Schedule: Page | 2 The Planning Commission reviewed the proposal at its September 24, 2025 meeting and held a public hearing at which no one spoke. The Commission forwarded a unanimous positive recommendation to the Council on the proposed amendments. Goal of the briefing: Review the proposed text amendment and determine if the Council supports moving forward with the proposal. POLICY QUESTIONS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Page | 3 Currently when streets or street segments adjacent to low density residential properties are vacated the property owners are required to pay market rate for the vacated property. Under the proposal street vacations next to low density residential properties would be treated the same as alleys and the vacated property given to adjacent owners. Other Proposed Changes KEY CONSIDERATION Consideration 1 – Impact on Alley Vacation Requests CITY DEPARTMENT REVIEW During City department and division review of the proposed text amendment, responding departments and divisions did not express opposition to the proposed rezone though some noted the need for their department or division to be notified of proposed vacations and closures. This is current practice and would not change under the proposal. Page | 4 Following the Planning Commission meeting the City Engineer expressed concern that street and alley vacations may include other public ways (trails, midblock walkways, etc.). Planning staff clarified that the proposal is applicable only to streets and alleys and does not include other public ways which are considered real property. These are addressed in another section of City code and are outside the scope of the proposed amendment. Planning also noted that since streets and alleys are not considered real property, it is not appropriate to treat them the same. PROJECT CHRONOLOGY Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning City Council –February 3, 2026 PLNPCM2025-00423 DISPOSITION OF ALLEYS & STREETS TEXT AMENDMENT Salt Lake City //Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning BACKGROUND •Planning Commission initiated in February 2025 to modify 14.52 and address lack of use policy consideration. •Intent is to include all city owned streets and alleys and to update the policies that must be met or considered. •Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation with a modification in September 2025. Salt Lake City //Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning CONSIDERATION FACTORS NOW •Four factors currently exist; requests must meet at least one for the city to consider disposing of an alley •Lack of Use •Public Safety •Urban Design •Community Purpose An alley with structures and vegetation built into it, satisfying the Lack of Use factor. Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning CONSIDERATION FACTORS PROPOSED •Seven proposed factors - no longer required to meet one: 1.Impact on General Plan 2.Impact to Property 3.Public Utilities 4.Size Factors 5.Lack of Use 6.Public Safety 7.Community Purpose •Lack of Use modifications to not allow illegal obstructions to be considered if installed after April 12, 1995 •Urban Design policy factor was removed Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning METHOD OF DISPOSITION •Retains the three existing methods of disposition and adds two new methods •Exchange of land •Simple closure for public or private purpose •Modifies what is to be considered “low density residential use” •Must be 25 dwelling units per acre or less according to the applicable future land use map Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning INCLUSION OF STREETS •Vacating or closing streets has no set policies or procedures •Streets have been processed using the same process as alleys or via the 1999 City Council Policies Requests for the vacation of the space between the sidewalk and property line would now be included in 14.52. Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning PUBLIC HEARING REQUIREMENTS •All vacation and closure requests are currently required to have a public hearing with the Planning Commission •New requests can be exempt if there are no objections or concerns from City departments or public •City Council would receive recommendation from Planning Director instead of Planning Commission Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning POST PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS •Planning Staff recommends adding an additional exemption to 14.52.070.C that would allow Council to waive payment when the land is conveyed to a government entity. •The Engineering Division provided comments after the Planning Commission recommended approval of the text amendment and is here to answer any questions that Council may have regarding their recommendations. Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning Ben Buckley // Principal Planner benjamin.buckley@slc.gov 801-535-7142