PLNZAD2019-01075 - 244 N Canyon1
March 9, 2020
ADMINISTRATIVE INTERPRETATION
DECISION AND FINDINGS
PLNZAD2019-01075
REQUEST:
A request for an administrative interpretation regarding the contributing status of the building
located at approximately 244 N Canyon Road (Tax ID 09-31-327-013). The subject property is
located in the Avenues Local Historic District.
DECISION:
The Zoning Administrator finds that the building located at 244 N Canyon Road is considered to
be noncontributing to the Avenues Local Historic District. The Zoning Administrator finds the
structure’s character defining features are not intact and have been substantially altered;
therefore, the building is found to no longer satisfies the definition or criteria for a contributing
structure found in Section 21A.34.020.C.
BACKGROUND:
The subject property is located in the Avenues Local Historic District, within H (Historic
Preservation Overlay District) and is subject to the standards in section 21A.34.020 of the Salt
Lake City Zoning Ordinance. The structure is one story in height and constructed in 1899 as a
duplex.
Section 21A.34.020B of the Salt Lake City Zoning Ordinance defines contributing and non-
contributing structures, as follows:
CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE: A structure or site within the H Historic
Preservation Overlay District that meets the criteria outlined in subsection C15 of
this section [21A.34.020] and is of moderate importance to the City, State, region
or Nation because it imparts artistic, historic or cultural values. A contributing
structure has its major character defining features intact and although minor
alterations may have occurred they are generally reversible. Historic materials
may have been covered but evidence indicates they are intact.
NONCONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE: A structure within the H Historic
Preservation Overlay District that does not meet the criteria listed in subsection
C15 of this section [21A.34.020]. The major character defining features have been
so altered as to make the original and/or historic form, materials and details
indistinguishable and alterations are irreversible. Noncontributing structures
may also include those which are less than fifty (50) years old.
Historic Resource Surveys are one of the tools used by Staff for the purpose of identifying and
evaluating the quantity and quality of historic resources for land use planning purposes following
the guidelines and forms of the Utah State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
The first survey conduct in the Avenues Local Historic District was in 1977. Buildings were
evaluated and each was given one of the following ratings:
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Significant
Contributory
Not Contributory
Intrusion
In 1980, the site information form designated the property as “Contributory.” The form describes
the building as a one-story pioneer vernacular with stucco over adobe or brick with a gabled roof.
The description indicated the structure has been significantly altered to include a porch and shed
addition on the street-facing building facade off Canyon Road.
Historic surveys were also conducted in 2007 and 2013, and each property within the Avenues
Historic District was evaluated and given one of the following ratings:
A-Eligible/Significant
B-Eligible
C-Ineligible
D-Out of Period
X-Demolished
U-Undetermined
The 2007 and 2013 surveys identified the subject structure as a contributing with a “B-Eligible”
rating. The surveys are conducted in accordance with State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
Standard Operating Procedures, and the surveyed resources were evaluated using criteria
developed by SHPO. Buildings with a “B” evaluation retain historic integrity but are typically not
eligible for individual listing, they are good examples of types or style of architecture but are not
as well executed as “A” rated buildings.
ANALYSIS & FINDINGS:
21A.34.020.C.15
Standards For The Designation Of A Landmark Site, Local Historic District Or Thematic
Designation: Each lot or parcel of property proposed as a landmark site, for inclusion in
a local historic district, or for thematic designation shall be evaluated according to the
following:
A. Significance in local, regional, state or national history, architecture, engineering
or culture, associated with at least one of the following:
1. Events that have made significant contribution to the important patterns of
history, or
2. Lives of persons significant in the history of the city, region, state, or nation,
or
3. The distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction; or
the work of a notable architect or master craftsman, or
4. Information important in the understanding of the prehistory or history of
Salt Lake City;
B. Physical integrity in terms of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship,
feeling and association as defined by the national park service for the national
register of historic places;
C. The proposed local historic district or thematic designation is listed, or is eligible
to be listed on the national register of historic places;
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D. The proposed local historic district contains notable examples of elements of the
city's history, development patterns or architecture not typically found in other
local historic districts within Salt Lake City;
E. The designation is generally consistent with adopted planning policies; and
F. The designation would be in the overall public interest.
The Ordinance criteria draw directly from the national preservation methodology and evaluation
criteria developed by the U.S. Department of the Interior for the Secretary of the Interior’s
Standards for Historic Preservation. In relation to evaluating a property, the National Park
Service provides clarification and guidance in the National Register Bulletin 15 ‘How to Apply the
National Register Criteria for Evaluation’.
Analysis on standards A and B is below. Standards C through F are not applicable because they
relate to designation of a district or site, and not to reevaluating the contributing status of
individual parcels within the already designated Avenues Local Historic District.
A. Significance in local, regional, state or national history, architecture,
engineering or culture, associated with at least one of the following:
1. Events that have made significant contribution to the important patterns
of history, or
2. Lives of persons significant in the history of the city, region, state, or
nation, or
3. The distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction;
or the work of a notable architect or master craftsman, or
4. Information important in the understanding of the prehistory or history of
Salt Lake City;
Analysis: The building is not associated with an event that made a significant contribution
to a pattern of history and is not associated with a person significant in the history of the city,
region, state or nation. The original styling of the building was characteristic of a period of
design; however, the physical integrity of the building has been lost due to significant
alterations that occurred between 1950 and 1980. The building does not relate to information
important to the understanding of the prehistory or history of Salt Lake City.
B. Physical integrity in terms of location, design, setting, materials,
workmanship, feeling and association as defined by the national park service
for the national register of historic places;
Analysis: The National Park Service defines integrity as “the ability of a property to convey
its significance.” Within the concept of integrity, the National Register criteria recognizes
seven aspects or qualities that, in various combinations, define integrity. In relation to the
seven aspects of integrity as defined by the National Park Service, several observations can be
made.
Location: Location is the place where the historic property was constructed. The
property was constructed in its current location; therefore, the location of the building
remains intact.
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Design: Design is the combination of elements that create the form, plan, space,
structure, and style of a property. The original architectural design of this building was
pioneer vernacular with a gabled roof. The structure has been significantly altered with a
shed roof addition, porch addition, and gabled dormers along the front building façade.
The property’s design no longer reflects its historic design, nor its aesthetics. The structure
does not retain its design integrity.
Setting: Setting is the physical environment of a historic property. This building is
situated on the east side of Canyon Road within an area of the Historic District that includes
a variety of architectural styles and uses. The property is adjacent to single family dwellings
to the north and south, open space to the west, and multi-family housing to the east (rear).
The structure is located on the west border of the Avenues Historic District, which is
directly bordered by the Capitol Hill Historic District. The setting of the subject property
retains integrity.
Materials: Materials are the physical elements that were combined or deposited during
a particular period of time and in a particular pattern or configuration to form a historic
property. The original materials were comprised of stucco and plaster. Currently, the front
building façade consists of stucco and horizontal wood sidings with asphalt shingle
roofing. The structure retains some of the original materials dating from the period of
construction. However, the integrity of the structure’s materials is not intact.
Workmanship: Workmanship is the physical evidence of the crafts of a particular
culture or people during any given period in history or prehistory. The original
construction of the structure provided evidence of the workmanship associated with
pioneer vernacular construction. The symmetrical building façade has been altered by the
shed addition and porch addition. The structure no longer provides physical evidence of
the workmanship associated with the type and style of construction, due to significant
alterations.
Feeling: Feeling is a property's expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of a
particular period of time. This building does not retain the architectural features that
convey the properties historic character, which is a pioneer vernacular building. The
structure has been significantly altered, which has modified the character defining
features of the property, as noted above discussion of Design and Workmanship. The
structure no longer clearly provides a historic sense of a particular period of time.
Association: Association is the direct link between an important historic event or
person and a historic property. The subject property is a component of the Avenues
Historic District; therefore, the property retains integrity if it shares the associations of
the district. The district was designated for its associations with Community Planning &
Development and Architecture. The subject property falls within the Victorian
Urbanization period and its association with the development patterns in the Avenues
Historic District. The building does not retain architectural features associated with the
pioneer vernacular style, and the architecture of this particular building is no longer
individually distinguishable. The overall collection of this structure, and other
components from this time period, collectively does not share associations with the
classical architectural styles within the Avenues.
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SUMMARY:
Subsection 21A.34.020C.15 of the Salt Lake City Zoning Ordinance outlines criteria that each
property within a historic district must meet to be considered “contributing” to the historic
district. The findings conclude that the subject property does not meet the criteria for both
standards A and B to be considered a contributing to the local historic district. Based on the
foregoing findings and analysis, the structure’s character defining features are not intact and have
been substantially altered; therefore, the structure is non-contributing to the Avenues Local
Historic District.
If you have any questions regarding this interpretation, please contact Linda Mitchell at 801- 535-
7751 or by email at linda.mitchell@slcgov.com.
APPEAL PROCESS:
An applicant or any other person or entity adversely affected by a decision administering or
interpreting this Title [Salt Lake City Zoning Ordinance] may appeal to the Appeals Hearing
Officer. Notice of appeal shall be filed within ten (10) days of the administrative decision. The
appeal shall be filed with the Planning Division and shall specify the decision appealed and the
reasons the appellant claims the decision to be in error. Applications for appeals are located on
the Planning Division website at https://www.slc.gov/planning/applications/ along with
information about the applicable fee.
Appeals may be filed in person or by mail at:
In Person:
Salt Lake City Corp
Planning Counter
451 S State Street, Room 215
Salt Lake City, UT
US Mail:
Salt Lake City Corp
Planning Counter
PO Box 145471
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5417
NOTICE:
Please be advised that a determination finding a particular use to be a permitted use or a
conditional use shall not authorize the establishment of such use nor the development,
construction, reconstruction, alteration, or moving of any building or structure. It shall merely
authorize the preparation, filing, and processing of applications for any approvals and permits
that may be required by the codes and ordinances of the City including, but not limited to, a zoning
certificate, a building permit, and a certificate of occupancy, subdivision approval, and a site plan
approval.
Dated this 9th day of March 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Linda Mitchell
Principal Planner
cc: Nick Norris, Planning Director
Michaela Oktay, Deputy Planning Director
Joel Paterson, Zoning Administrator
Greg Mikolash, Development Review Supervisor
Posted to Web
Applicable Recognized Organizations
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Attachments:
A. Archive Photograph (Courtesy of Salt Lake County Assessor’s Office)
B. Site Information Form (1980)
C. Current Photograph
D. Vicinity Map
ATTACHMENT A
ATTACHMENT B
ATTACHMENT B (cont.)
ATTACHMENT C
ATTACHMENT D