HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Provided Information - 3/24/2026RIO GRANDE DISTRICT
Salt Lake Central Station
Historic Rio Grande Depot
Central Business District
Pioneer Park
The Gateway
Pitt Street Pedestrian Mall - Sydney, Australia
Plan Implementation – Next Steps
•Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone (HTRZ)
•USA Climbing
•Zoning Amendment
•Public Improvements
•Developer Solicitation
WEBSITE
cra.slc.gov/home/riograndedistrict/
Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning
City Council briefing February 3, 2026
PLNPCM2025-00180 & 00181
RIO GRANDE GENERAL
PLAN & ZONING MAP
AMENDMENT
Salt Lake City //Planning Division
1.General Plan Amendment to
update portions of the Downtown
Plan
2.Zoning Map Amendment to rezone
32 parcels from GMU Gateway
Mixed Use to D-4 Secondary Central
Business District
REQUEST
Salt Lake City //Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Rio Grande
Intermodal
Hub
Future USA
Climbing
Training
Center
Artspace
50
0
W
60
0
W
300 S
200 S
400 S
<20 minute Walking distance to:
•Gateway
•Delta Center
•Pioneer Park
•Salt Palace Convention Center
Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT
Visual from the proposed Update “Rio Grande District”
Current Catalytic Project featured in the
Downtown Plan
Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning
MID BLOCK WALKWAYS
Existing Midblock Walkway Plan Proposed Midblock Walkway Plan
Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning
ZONING MAP AMENDMENT
•32 parcels within Rio Grande
Area
•Owned by CRA or University of
Utah
•From GMU to D-4
Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning
COMPARISON OF GMU & D-4
Zoning Standard GMU D-4
Height Minimum 75’
Design Review over 90’
Maximum 180’
By right up to 200’
200 through 600’ with DR and D4
Standards
Maximum 600’
Fron/ Corner Setbacks Max 10’, Min 10’ for residential 0 Minimum, 8’ maximum
Design Standards Identical, except the following:
Glass: Upper floors 40 50
Budling entrance (feet between) 40 60
Maximum Blank wall 15 20
Lighting: parking lot X
Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning
D-4 STANDARDS OVER 200’:
Buildings from 200’ to 600’, through Design
Review process:
Shall include a minimum stepback of five feet (5’)
…Located above the first floor and below one hundred
twenty feet (120’)
The building includes at least one of the following
options:
1.Midblock walkway is provided on the property.
…and exceeds all the required dimensions by at least
five feet;
2.The building is utilizing affordable housing
incentives
3.The requirement for enhanced active ground floor
uses must be increased to 100%
4.The applicant provides a restrictive covenant on a
historic building, a building that is fifty (50) years or
older, or a building that is a nationally recognized
property, located outside of the H Historic
Preservation Overlay District for the purpose of
preserving the structure for a minimum of fifty (50)
years; or
5.The proposal includes a privately owned, publicly
accessible open space on the property or on
another property within the geographic boundaries of
the Downtown Plan.
Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning
STANDARDS FOR ZONING & PLAN
AMENDMENTS
•No Community Benefit is required for City-
initiated Petitions
•Consistent with purposes, goals objectives and polices
of the city including the Downtown Plan and Plan
Salt Lake
•Furthers the purpose statement of the ordinance
•Status of existing transportation facilities, and the
impact that the proposed amendment may have on
the city’s transportation improvements
•The extent to which it will affect nearby properties due
to development potential
•Public Safety impacts created by development
potential
Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning
RECOMMENDATION
The Planning Commission forwarded
a unanimous positive
recommendation to the City Council
on October 22, 2025
Salt Lake City // Planning Division www.slc.gov/planning
Cassie Younger
CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY
451 SOUTH STATE STREET, ROOM 304
P.O. BOX 145476, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84114-5476
SLC.GOV/COUNCIL
TEL 801-535-7600 FAX 801-535-7651
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL of SALT LAKE CITY
TO:City Council Members
FROM: Kate Werrett
Budget & Policy Analyst
DATE:March 24, 2026
RE:Rio Grande Master Plan and Zoning Map Amendment
ISSUE AT-A-GLANCE
The Council will receive a briefing about a proposal to amend the zoning for 32 properties located in the Rio
Grande District, between 200 South and 400 South, and 500 West and 600 West, from G-MU (Gateway-Mixed
Use District) to D-4 (Downtown Secondary Central Business District). The proposal would allow for additional
building height and amend the Downtown Plan to include the mid-block walkways within the Rio Grande
District and update the Implementation Plan.
On December 10, 2024, the City Council, acting as the Community Reinvestment Board (CRA), endorsed the Rio
Grande District Vision and Implementation Plan. This master plan and zoning map amendment, initiated by the
CRA, incorporates the district plan changes into the City’s Downtown Plan and zoning map.
Goal of the briefing: Review the proposed plan and zoning map amendment and determine if the Council
supports moving forward with the proposal. The Council will then hold a public hearing and consider
adopting these changes at a future meeting.
POLICY QUESTIONS
1. The Council may wish to ask how these General Plan and zoning changes will be implemented over time.
2. The Council may wish to discuss any fiscal or operational impacts to the City associated with adopting
these changes.
ADDITIONAL & BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The following summarizes the specific updates and clarifications proposed to the City’s Downtown Plan and
zoning map:
Project Timeline:
1st Briefing: February 3, 2026
Set Date: February 17, 2026
Public Hearing: March 10, 2026
Tentative Action: March 24, 2026
Page | 2
General Plan Amendment
- General Plan amendment updating portions of the Downtown Plan associated with the Rio Grande
District area. Updates include changes to midblock walkway locations.
- 35 parcels to be rezoned from Gateway Mixed Use (GMU) to Secondary Downtown Zone (D4). The
impacted parcels are owned by the CRA or the University of Utah.
- These properties would have significant additional height if rezoned.
- Gateway Mixed-Use has a maximum height of 180’ and anything over 90’ must go through design
review. D-4 allows 200’ by right and up to 600’ with can be authorized through the Design Review
process outlined in 21A.59.
- The design review process outlines a process and standards that are intended to ensure larger
developments are “compatible with their surroundings, impacts to public infrastructure and public
spaces are addressed, and that new development helps achieve development goals outlined in the
adopted master plans of the city as identified in the purpose statements of each zoning district.”
(21A.59.010: Purpose Statement)
- Planning staff determined that the recommended modifications are consistent with the City's goals,
objectives, and policies. At their October 22, 2025 meeting, the Planning Commission voted
unanimously to forward a positive recommendation to the City Council.
• November 10, 2022: The RDA Board adopted a resolution for FY2022-2023 RDA Budget Amendment
2 to provide funds for a consultant to develop a planning and implementation strategy for 15 acres of
RDA-owned property in the Depot District Project Area.
• December 10, 2024: CRA Board endorsed the RDA’s utilization of the Rio Grande District Vision and
Implementation Plan.
• February 26, 2025: Petition for zoning map and general plan amendment received by the Planning
Division.
• March 15, 2025: Property owners and residents within 300 feet of the development were provided early
notification of the proposal.
• March 17, 2025: The Downtown Community Council and Granary District Alliance were sent the 45-
day required notice for recognized community organizations.
• March 18, 2025: Early notification signs were posted on the subject properties every 500 ft. by the
applicant.
• March 2025 – Present: The project was posted to the Online Open House webpage.
• October 22, 2025: Planning Commission briefing and public hearing. The Commission voted
unanimously to forward a positive recommendation to the City Council.
• December 24, 2025: Transmittal received in City Council Office.
1) Administrative Transmittal: Rio Grande Master Plan and Zoning Map Amendment
2) Impacted Existing Documents:
a)Salt Lake City Downtown Plan
b)Salt Lake City Zoning Map