A proposal for townhomes and condominiums in East Bench cleared one important hurdle in its entitlements journey earlier this month, as the Salt Lake City Planning Commission gave a thumbs up to its rezoning request.
The planning commission voted to forward a unanimous positive recommendation to the city council to rezone three single-family lots (R-1-7000) to MU-3. If approved by the city council, the rezone would pave the way for a development that would feature eight townhomes and 18 condos. Of those units, a minimum of three would be sold as affordable units to those making at or below 80% AMI.
Brooke Olson, a senior planner for Salt Lake City, explained the property subject to the rezone would include the eight townhomes and three or four of the condo units, while the remainder of the condo units would be built to the south on what’s currently a surface parking lot zoned MU-3. The MU-3 zone carries a maximum 35-foot height, though an extra five feet can be added through a design review.
Joe Johnsen, president of J Development, the company applying for the rezone, said the current properties are dilapidated, and the current landowner wants to replace the buildings.
A preliminary rendering of a slate of townhomes and condos being pitched near Foothill Drive. Image via Method Studio
A different developer tried to convert the single-family home lots in 2023, though the effort was denied by the city council because it offered no community benefit. Council Member Dan Dugan previously told Building Salt Lake he voted against the 2023 pitch because it didn’t have affordable housing units.
Johnsen said his company isn’t trying to put in a highrise, and wants to build housing that “brings a sense of cohesion to the neighborhood.” He added the condo building would have amenities for residents of both the condos and the townhomes.
Though the ultimate plan would be to build more housing, only the rezone is currently being proposed. The staff report added that details like the unit mix or the exterior designs have not yet been finalized.
A number of East Bench residents spoke during the meeting, and their concerns largely focused on the traffic going in and out of 1300 South. Johnsen said his company tried to figure out an ingress/egress for the project along 2300 East, but the developers and architects couldn’t make it work.
A site plan for a slate of townhomes and condos being pitched near Foothill Drive. Image via Method Studio
Johnsen emphasized that the design elements and exterior renderings are not yet finalized, and the current proposal only deals with the rezone. He said he and others on the project are happy to continue meeting with nearby residents to hear their concerns and figure out solutions.
Many of the commissioner’s questions had to do with the potential development, and less about the rezone itself. In the end, the planning commission voted unanimously to recommend the city council approve the rezone, though they added a suggestion that the council review the components of Salt Lake City’s Thriving in Place strategy to ensure those ideas are included in the rezone.
In accordance with the staff report, the commission also included a handful of recommendations for the project, including offering relocation assistance to those in the three homes that would be knocked down, as well as committing to a minimum of three units being offered to households earning 80% AMI or less.
The rezone proposal will now head to the city council, who will ultimately decide whether or not the pitch can move forward. It’s not clear when the council could hear the proposal.
A preliminary rendering of a slate of townhomes and condos being pitched near Foothill Drive. Image via Method Studio
A preliminary rendering of a slate of townhomes and condos being pitched near Foothill Drive. Image via Method Studio
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