The city of Murray is embarking on an ambitious plan to redevelop approximately 86 acres of its city center, aspiring to create a mixed-use, form-based downtown core.
This initiative, known as the City Center Form Based Code, has emerged after years of planning aimed at transforming the suburban landscape of Salt Lake City into a more vibrant and cohesive urban hub.
Murray’s efforts reflect a broader trend among Salt Lake suburbs to forge distinct identities through the creation of unified town centers, facilitated by strategic zoning changes.
The proposed redesign emphasizes mixed-use developments while providing a smooth transition from higher-density downtown settings to more residential areas.
The area earmarked for the rezone is bounded to the west by train tracks and to the south by Little Cottonwood Creek.
The zone extends to the north side of 4800 South and stops at Center Street and Jones Court to the east.
Notably, some buildings, such as an Intermountain Healthcare facility and a state liquor store along the west side of State Street, are excluded from this district.
Chad Wilkinson, Murray’s community and economic development director, shared insights on the importance of this overhaul.
He explained that the work began in 2017 with the approval of a new general plan by the city that called for a comprehensive redesign of the downtown core.
Wilkinson stated, “To revitalize downtown, that’s definitely the fundamental purpose of the home-based code effort.”
He added that the focus is to establish economic stability for the downtown area based on the types of buildings rather than their specific uses.
The zoning changes will effectively split the existing Murray City Center District (MCCD) into five distinct districts, each designed with different purposes and allowable uses in mind.
This form-based overhaul will also include a reclassification of allowable building heights.
Wilkinson clarified that while some areas may see changes in height limits and building types, he prefers to view these transitions as a general rezone rather than a simple upzoning or downzoning.
He noted, “There’s a broadening of uses in other areas of the form-based district … I wouldn’t categorize this as an up zone or a down zone, it’s just a rezone.
It’s just changing the way things are done.”
Currently, the MCCD permits buildings of up to 10 stories, reaching 135 feet in height, although different sectors have varying restrictions ranging between 85 feet and 35 feet.
Under the proposed changes, the tallest new buildings would be capped at eight stories, specifically in the Transit Neighborhood Form District, located in the southwest corner of the city center, close to Murray Central station, which serves FrontRunner and TRAX lines.
David Rodgers, a senior planner for Murray City, emphasized that the overhaul offers a clearer and more cohesive vision for downtown Murray.
He commented, “For us, it’s more adding focus to what we want the downtown to look like and how it will take shape, rather than let it be more of a mismatch of various projects.”
The proposed form-based code divides the area into five specific districts: Civic Center, Boulevard, Neighborhood Corridor, Residential Transition, and Transit Neighborhood.
Interestingly, the districts appear to fit together like uneven puzzle pieces, as some do not align with traditional city block layouts and instead traverse major thoroughfares like State Street.
The Civic Center district is intended to serve as the main hub of the city.
It is designed to feature the new Murray City Hall, completed in 2023, alongside open spaces, retail shops, and housing units.
In this district, buildings will have a minimum height of three stories and a maximum of six stories, promoting a walkable environment with smaller streets and community-oriented spaces, including dining options.
This district is primarily located between 4800 South to the north, Vine Street to the south, Box Elder Street to the west, and State Street to the east, though all structures along the west side of State Street do not fall under the Civic Center’s jurisdiction.
Instead, the Boulevard district encompasses the buildings lining State Street, which extends from 4800 South in the north to Little Cottonwood Creek in the south.
The Boulevard district is envisaged to reflect a more historical vibe, with added design requirements for building materials, window styles, and doors.
Here, the minimum building height is two stories, while the maximum height is three stories, though structures may reach up to five stories if the upper levels are set back 30 feet from the front facade.
Rodgers indicated that the local government aims to restore the traditional Main Street ambiance as individuals enter downtown Murray from State Street.
The goal for this district is to provide a mix of office spaces, restaurants, and commercial establishments, creating an atmosphere where visitors can instantly recognize they are in Murray’s downtown.
Adjacent to the Civic Center core, the Neighborhood Corridor district similarly supports mixed-use development but lacks stringent historical requirements.
Primarily located west of the Civic Center, it is designed to transition smoothly into adjacent residential neighborhoods while accommodating office spaces, retail outlets, restaurants, and housing options.
The maximum height for buildings in this district is limited to three stories.
The Residential Transition district also mirrors the characteristics of the Neighborhood Corridor and Boulevard districts, acting as a buffer between the bustling State Street and the residential areas to the east.
Its primary uses include housing and office spaces, capped at a maximum height of three stories.
The district aims to blend residential styles with commercial ventures on the ground level.
Rodgers underscored the intention behind the Neighborhood Corridor and Residential Transition districts, stating, “A lot of the neighborhoods around the Murray downtown area have existed for 50, 60 years, and so we want to preserve the character of those neighborhoods while also allowing the areas around them in the downtown to be able to redevelop into something that works well with the downtown area.”
Lastly, the Transit Neighborhood district, located nearest to the Murray Central TRAX and FrontRunner stations, would permit the tallest buildings of the entire rezone area, allowing a maximum height of eight stories and a minimum of four stories.
The focal point of this district is to concentrate office and residential spaces while promoting mixed-use development.
As for the current status of these zoning changes, the Murray Planning Commission provided a favorable recommendation for the overhaul on April 17, marking significant progress toward its enactment.
Wilkinson noted that plans will soon be presented to the city council for discussion as well as a public meeting, followed by a council vote anticipated to occur during the summer.
He revealed that there is already interest in future developments within the city center, citing a parking lot located at the southwest corner of State Street and 4800 South — positioned in both the Boulevard and Civic Center districts — which may begin developing soon after the council approves the zoning overhaul.
image source from：https://buildingsaltlake.com/murray-planning-to-overhaul-its-downtown-with-form-based-zoning-code/
