Staff Report - na
1 November 1, 2024
PLANNING DIVISION
DEPARTMENT of COMMUNITY and NEIGHBORHOODS
Staff Report
To: Salt Lake City Planning Commission
From: Nick Norris, Planning Director
Nick.norris@slc.gov or 801-535-6173
Date: November 13, 2024
Re: Petition initiation requested by Planning Commission to modify the provision that
prohibits some land uses from being within 1,000 feet of single and two family
zoning districts.
Petition Initiation
REQUEST:
The commission recently requested that a work session item be placed on an agenda to discuss
broadening the applicability of a regulation that prohibits certain land uses within 1,000 feet of
single- and two-family zoning districts. The request proposed expanding the 1,000-foot
prohibition to any residential zoning district. The purpose of this request is to protect the health
and safety of residents living in other zoning districts, not just those who live in a single- or two-
family district.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Planning Division recommends that the commission initiate a petition that would potentially
expand the regulation that prohibits some land uses that are detrimental to the health and safety
of residents from being located within 1,000 feet of a single- or two-family zoning district to apply
to other residential zoning districts where people live. The following motion may be considered
by the commission:
“I move that the commission initiate a text amendment to review the land uses that are
subject to, or should be subject to, the 1,000-foot spacing requirement from residential
zoning districts. The initiation may include reviewing other land uses that should have
the provision applied, clarifying whether the distance applies to the property or the
boundaries of a use, and other related provisions that may help protect the health and
safety of city residents.”
ATTACHMENTS:
A. ATTACHMENT A: Maps of areas impacted by the 1,000-foot spacing requirement
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Planning Commission recently asked the Planning Division to provide some background
information on a potential text amendment related to the spacing requirements between some land
uses and single- or two-family residential zoning districts. Specifically, the commission asked if that
wording should be changed so the spacing requirement would apply more equitably to all residential
zoning districts and not just the single- and two-family zoning districts. The commission also asked
about clarifying how the measurement is applied so the spacing applied if any portion of the property
is within 1,000 feet.
The purpose of the footnote is to prohibit land uses that generate noise, odor, pollution and other
impacts that negatively impact the health and/or safety of people who live near such uses.
The allowed land uses in each zoning district are listed in tables found in 21A.33. The uses listed are
shown as either permitted or conditional. If the table does not indicate that the use is permitted or
conditional, then the use is considered prohibited. Some land uses in some zoning districts include
footnotes that typically further restrict a specific land use under specific circumstances. One of the
footnotes found in the land use tables reads “Prohibited within 1,000 feet of a Single- or Two-Family
Zoning District.” A sample of the uses that this footnote applies are in the table below.
Defined Land Use Zoning
Districts
Permitted or
Conditional
Animal, Pound M-1, M-2 C P
Animal, Stockyard M-1,
M-2
C
P
Bus Line Yard and Repair Facility M-1 P
Concrete and/or Asphalt Manufacturing M-1,
M-2,
EI
C
P
P
Explosive Manufacturing and Storage M-2 C
Flammable Liquids or Gas, Heating Fuel Distribution or Storage M-2 P
Heavy Manufacturing M-2 P
Impound Lot CG C
Incinerator, Medical Waste/Hazardous Wast M-2 C
Poultry Farm or Processing Plant M-2 P
Recycling Processing Center (outdoors) M-1,
M-2
P
C
Slaughterhouses M-2 P
Truck Freight Terminal M-1,
M-2
P
P
Electric Generation Facility M-1,
M-2
C
P
Solid Waste Transfer Station M-1,
M-2
C
P
Theater, Live Performance Multiple P OR C
Vehicle/Auto Salvage and Recycling M-1,
M-2
C
P
The table indicates that most of the land uses with this provision are in the M-1 Light Manufacturing
Zoning District and the M-2 Heavy Manufacturing Zoning District. Some of the uses are also in the CG
General Commercial Zoning District or the EI Extractive Industry Zoning District. If the commission
initiates a petition, a more thorough review of the land use tables will identify all land uses that are
subject, or should be subject, to the footnote provision.
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All but two of the other land uses with the provision are in the M-1 and M-2 zoning districts. Attachment
A includes maps that show portions of the M-1, M-2, and EI zoning districts that are within 1,000-feet
of a residential zoning district. The maps show that the land impacted by the 1,000-foot buffer are all
in the Capitol Hill, Northwest, and Westside Planning Communities. The maps show single- and two-
family zoning districts in yellow and all other residential districts in orange. The A-Agriculture zones
are included as well because they allow single family dwellings on large lots. The intent of separating
out the zoning districts is to demonstrate how the provision currently applies (residential shown in
yellow on the maps) and how it may apply if modified to apply to all residential districts.
The “Theater, Live Performance” land use was recently reviewed by the Planning Commission because
the City Council initiated a text change to expand where this use is allowed. That land use would not be
considered as part of this initiation as a result.
There are likely other land uses within the land use table that create pollution and other health or safety
impacts where this provision may be appropriate. As part of the review, the land use tables will be
analyzed in more detail to identify the uses that create health and safety impacts to determine if the
uses should be subject to the proposal. The analysis will also review the land use tables that are part of
the zoning consolidation project. It is possible that the footnote may be applied to other zoning districts,
be modified as well, or additional footnotes added based on the analysis.
APPROVAL PROCESS AND COMMISSION AUTHORITY
The commission has the authority to initiate a zoning amendment. To do so, the action must be
advertised on the agenda with at least 24 hours public notice, a commissioner must make a
motion to initiate the amendment, and then a majority of the commissioners present must vote
to initiate the petition.
If an amendment is approved, the Planning Division will research the relevant changes, draft the
proposed changes, check in with the commission to ensure the changes are consistent with what
the commission intends, and then start the public engagement process. The desired output of the
process is to update the code to protect health and safety by limiting how close some impactful
land uses are to where people live and to do so as quickly as possible to limit the possibility of the
identified uses being established.
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ATTACHMENT A: Maps of areas impacted by
the 1,000-foot spacing
requirement
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