The Salt Lake City Planning Commission has experienced a surge in activity since COVID-19, handling an increasing number of significant zoning changes that have emerged in tandem with the Mayor’s pro-housing agenda.
Recently, the commission has also navigated rapid zoning amendments linked to state-mandated deadlines for major local projects like Larry H. Miller’s Power District on North Temple and Smith Entertainment Group’s Delta Center mixed-use entertainment district.
Currently, the commission is composed of eight members but has faced challenges in convening meetings punctually due to quorum requirements of at least five commissioners. If that wasn’t enough, the commission will lose two of its most seasoned members in the coming months, both reaching the limit of two consecutive four-year terms of service.
One of these experienced commissioners, an architect, planner, and professor, is set to depart in July, while the other, a citizen expert with extensive neighborhood activism experience, will retire next March.
Last night, the city council took proactive steps by interviewing and approving three new commissioners to replace these outgoing members. Despite the increased responsibilities, the benefits for commissioners remain limited, with compensation at $25 per meeting and a light snack during lengthy sessions, as noted by a senior planning official.
The upcoming transition prompts a closer look at what the commission could gain or lose with this new five-member lineup.
**Introducing the Incoming Commissioners**
Mayor Mendenhall nominated and the City Council approved three new applicants for the planning commission:
– **Jeffrey Barrett**, who is educated in urban planning and has a background in energy, working previously for Pacificorp and the Governor’s Office of Energy Development, as well as in renewable energy.
– **Lilah Rosenfield**, a service planner with UTA, brings expertise in regional transportation planning and data analysis based on her education and experience.
– **Michael Vela**, an architect and principal at HKS, an international design firm, carries significant architectural experience.
According to city code, the Planning Commission is required to include at least five but not more than eleven members, comprised of qualified citizens selected to ensure a balanced representation of geographic, professional, and community interests.
Historically, the balance on the commission has consisted of professionals from various development-related industries, adjacent professionals, citizen-experts, and generalists. While generalists may raise concerns regarding their qualifications, they often contribute fresh perspectives rooted in community awareness, enabling effective communication and meeting management.
A key question for observers of local development is whether the new commissioners will align with the Mayor’s pro-housing agenda or push back on certain controversial issues posing challenges for policymakers and developers.
**A Look at Departing Influences**
Insights into the upcoming roster changes can be gleaned from the recent activities of the two departing commissioners, Bree Scheer and Amy Barry, who have notably impacted the commission’s decisions.
In a recent meeting, Scheer and Barry effectively resisted elements of the Administration’s “Multi-family Merger” proposal related to RMF-35 and -45 zoning, which suggested significant height increases for multi-family buildings on predominantly single-family home blocks.
Scheer articulated her concerns during a meeting, expressing support for increased densities but opposing drastic height changes that could disrupt existing neighborhood aesthetics. She remarked, “I’m completely in favor of having lot sizes that make sense and that can have a larger number of units on them, but I’m not in favor of making a really jarring addition to a neighborhood.”
Barry, who previously served as chair of the Sugar House Community Council, also expressed apprehensions about maximum height limits under the proposed consolidated zone, prompting her firm pushback against the new zoning amendments.
Despite their challenges to higher-building thresholds, the commission unanimously passed a version of the ordinance last week, forwarding it to the city council for anticipated approval.
**Barry’s Perspective on Development Issues**
Amy Barry remains a powerful voice even in her final months on the commission, recently expressing strong reservations about a prominent local developer’s planned development proposal on 1518 S. Main St. in the Ballpark neighborhood.
The project, proposed by Urban Alfandre, sought an exception to the maximum facade length in the FB-UN-2 zone, with planning staff collaborating with architects to address the lengthy facade issue. However, Barry was unsatisfied, maintaining that the adjustments failed to meet necessary walkability standards.
She voiced her concerns about the considerable length of the design project, recalling her previous experiences where attempts to break up long facades fell short. “I’m more leery of applications… that wanna go that far over [the facade length maximum],” she stated during discussions about the proposal.
Though Barry motioned to reject the proposal, it ultimately passed with a close 3-2 vote.
**Scheer’s Comprehensive Planning Vision**
Scheer, known for her broader perspective on urban planning and design, will leave behind considerable shoes to fill. She has been lauded recently in a profile by the American Institute of Architects for her legacy, which includes overcoming early obstacles as a woman in architecture school during the 1970s to achieving leadership roles in urban planning education.
Her expansive vision was particularly evident in her critiques of SEG’s ambition to convert the Delta Center into a mixed-use entertainment district, which she forecasted could become an unsustainable model for urban planning.
Scheer cautioned against buildings that might age poorly, stating, “In the last 25 years we have demolished a lot of urban fabric… This is no way to plan a city.”
She urged a pivot towards creating frameworks that promote gradual, diverse changes spearheaded by multiple interests rather than relying on grand, singular developments.
Looking forward, Barry reflected on the principle of rotation in public service, suggesting that regular transitions bring fresh perspectives critical for maintaining relevance and engagement in local governance.
As the Salt Lake City Planning Commission heads into this pivotal transition, the challenge lies in whether the new appointments can replicate or redefine the collaborative dynamics and critical perspectives that have characterized the contributions of Scheer and Barry.
The upcoming months will test the ability of the new members to balance the Mayor’s housing agenda against the needs of existing communities, a significant aspect of their newfound responsibilities.
image source from：https://buildingsaltlake.com/preparing-for-a-brain-drain-planning-commission-gets-3-new-members/
