Salt Lake City Council has voted to approve a new consolidated mixed-use zoning code, finalizing a long-anticipated plan.
The ordinance was narrowly passed with a 4-3 vote during Tuesday evening’s formal meeting but not without last-minute complications that raised concerns among council members regarding a major redevelopment project in Central City.
With a three-month delay before the new zoning takes effect, members are concerned that this timeline could jeopardize the Northwest Pipeline Building project, an important redevelopment in Council Member Eva López Chávez’s district, which is expected to consist of 56 housing units.
López Chávez expressed her discontent with the three-month delay, emphasizing that it would impede the project’s progression and potentially ruin a $250 million initiative aimed at providing attainable home ownership through condos and townhomes in District Four.
“This particular building relies on LIHTC funding, they have a deadline to meet by Nov. 15, assuming everything within their project goes as articulated on their timeline scope, that is the minimum deadline,” López Chávez stated during the meeting.
However, the rationale behind how the zoning change could affect the project remains unclear, as other council members seemed to disagree with López Chávez’s assessment.
In her plea to the council, López Chávez revealed that developers contacted her just before the formal meeting, expressing concerns.
“I cannot believe that we are considering moving forward rapidly,” she said, advocating for a delay on the vote to better align the project with the larger zoning changes.
A significant part of this discussion stems from a recent critique from the Utah Attorney General’s Office, complicating the council’s earlier plans.
The council had initially looked to implement a six-month transition period where both existing and new mixed-use zoning standards could coexist.
However, after review, the Attorney General’s Office recommended against that approach, leading council members to consider alternate timelines for the transition period.
The staff report for the meeting highlighted that due to the extensive revisions required by the consolidation, the existing and new standards could not be applied simultaneously.
In the weeks leading to the meeting, council members deliberated on whether to impose a three- or six-month delay, but a definitive decision was not reached prior to the voting session.
The newly named Northwest Pipeline Building project generated timely concerns among council members, particularly for Council Member Victoria Petro, who worried about the implications of a shortened three-month transition period.
Petro advocated for a four-month window, believing it would better suit the developers’ needs to submit their plans on time.
“If we did something that knowingly harmed a significant project by a trusted developer… that would be a really terrible thing to put on my conscience,” Petro remarked during the discussion.
Council members faced conflicting priorities, weighing the potential hinderance of the Northwest Pipeline Building against the risks that a delay could pose to other impending developments that rely on the new zoning code.
This led Council Member Alejandro Puy to express skepticism that extensions would have a guaranteed positive impact on the Northwest Pipeline Building.
While acknowledging the significance of the project, Puy emphasized that numerous other developments would also benefit from an expedited ordinance, putting pressure on the council to act swiftly.
“There are probably dozens of other ones that need this ordinance to be on the books to be able to get the financing… So, while this project is amazing and I don’t want to jeopardize it as well, we are also hurting on the other side by delaying it. So there is no good way out of this one,” Puy explained.
Council Chair Chris Wharton supported Puy’s stance, indicating that further delay in passing the ordinance could create more negative repercussions for other projects waiting for a zoning decision.
“I also don’t want to delay this any longer for the other projects waiting for us to pick a date — and to pick a date that’s as soon as possible,” Wharton asserted, reinforcing the necessity of maintaining momentum for the city’s housing goals.
Ultimately, the council reached a decision, leading to a split vote that resulted in the ordinance’s approval.
Council Members Petro, López Chávez, and Sarah Young voted against the motion, while Council Members Puy, Wharton, Darin Mano, and Dan Dugan supported the zoning change.
As a result of the ordinance’s passage, Salt Lake City will see its mixed-use zoning code streamline from 26 zones into six, a significant change expected to align future developments with the city’s housing objectives.
The new parameters may also allow for increased building heights depending on neighborhood specifications.
This newly approved zoning overhaul may be just the beginning of further modifications to Salt Lake City’s zoning code in the near future.
The council is anticipating changes to the city’s design review process, while the Planning Commission has made strides forward with alterations to the RMF-35 and RMF-45 zones.
These adjustments reflect an ongoing commitment to addressing housing issues in Salt Lake City, as officials aim to foster a supportive environment for development projects amid evolving regulations.
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