South Salt Lake is making strides toward the approval of a transformative initiative that aims to reshape the urban landscape of the city’s northern edge.
Last week, the South Salt Lake Planning Commission swiftly voted in favor of the South Salt Lake Downtown Connect plan, described as an aspirational document that seeks to pave the way for a vibrant and prosperous urban future.
This recommendation has now been forwarded to the South Salt Lake City Council for further consideration.
The Downtown Connect plan encompasses approximately 100 acres around two UTA stations: Central Pointe, servicing the S-Line and TRAX Blue, Green, and Red lines, and the S-Line South Salt Lake stop located to the east.
This plan proposes a significant shift from the city’s current car-centric approach to a more urban, transit-oriented downtown core that will include new housing and retail spaces.
According to the Downtown Connect plan, “This plan forms the foundation of new zoning decisions and helps prioritize where public dollars go first.”
Eliza Ungricht, the City’s Deputy Community Development Director, informed commissioners that developing this plan is mandated by state law, which requires cities to submit a Station Area Plan as part of their moderate income housing plans.
The planning commission last reviewed the plan in February 2024; however, city staff later recognized it had not received complete approval to proceed.
Ungricht noted during the Thursday meeting, “We thought we were done, and then we came back and realized it needed to get certified by the Wasatch Front Regional Council.”
For the plan to move forward, it requires approval from both the planning commission and the city council before it can be reviewed by the WFRC.
A key aspect of the Downtown Connect plan is improving connections throughout the city and fostering a more walkable, multimodal environment.
One specific goal within the plan is to construct a train-grade crossing at Utopia Avenue to connect that street directly to the Central Pointe station.
“Once it’s in a plan that is adopted, you can get on UTA’s plans and WFRC’s plans, and then you can hopefully get funding for it,” Ungricht added.
Achieving this at-grade crossing will allow residents to avoid walking to 21st South, improving accessibility for the community.
This plan aligns with the city’s Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone (HTRZ), approved in 2023, which shares the same geographical boundaries but consists of separate documents.
The HTRZ plan indicates that the area could facilitate the construction of over 5,000 new housing units in the years to come.
The establishment of an HTRZ plan enables the city to unlock state funds, which are crucial for development near transit hubs.
Although this plan is essential under state law, it also represents a progressive step for a city that has not made significant progress towards establishing a vibrant downtown core until recently.
However, developments have gained momentum in recent months; for instance, the planning commission recently approved the Market Center development, which promises to provide 478 affordable housing units and retail spaces along the S-Line.
In addition, the city will see the opening of One Burton, a 180-unit market-rate apartment complex, which is conveniently located near the S-Line, marking another significant addition to the emerging urban core.
With these initiatives in motion, South Salt Lake is poised to create an urban landscape that is not only more connected but also enriching for its residents.
image source from：buildingsaltlake
