Planning Division 2024 Annual Report

This report provides an overview of the work completed by the Salt Lake City Planning Division throughout the year, including the contributions of the  Historic Landmark Commission  and  Planning Commission.  It also outlines the Division's efforts to implement the goals established in adopted community plans, and tackle growth-related challenges in the city.

The Planning Division consists of 6 Planning Teams, Management, and Administrative Staff, totaling 42 employees.

 Equity Team  | Manager, Kelsey Lindquist

The Equity Team focuses on initiatives to enhance the city's zoning equity, including removing zoning barriers that have led to inequities in the regulation of different areas.

 Growth Team  | Manager, John Anderson The Growth Team focuses on initiatives for the city’s future growth, creating policies that encourage development around existing infrastructure and amenities.

 Sustainability Team  | Manager, Amy Thompson

The Sustainability Team focuses on initiatives aimed at encouraging environmentally responsible growth throughout the city.  Opportunity Team  | Manager, Krissy Gilmore

The Opportunity Team focuses on initiatives that improve access to opportunities, such as removing zoning barriers for starting or operating businesses and creating housing opportunities for lower income households.

 Development Review Team  | Manager, Casey Stewart

The Development Review Team performs zoning reviews for building permits that require a site plan.  Zoning Administrator Team  | Mayara Lima

The Zoning Administrator team serves as a primary point of contact to customers, offering guidance on interpreting zoning codes, assisting customers in locating relevant information, and explaining how regulations apply to their specific needs. The team also helps customers navigate planning processes and actively participates in developing amendments to clarify code language and improve usability. 

The Administrative Team supports every aspect of the Planning Division's work, acting as the interface between the public and the services provided by the division.

The team consists of 4 staff people, responsible for:

• Organizing and supporting all public meetings, which include Planning Commission, Historic Landmark Commission, Appeals Hearing, and Administrative Hearings.
• Maintaining the division's website.
• Producing graphics for public documents and presentations.
• Budget support.
• Record management.

The Planning Counter is the first contact with the Planning Division, where constituents can obtain information and guidance on a project, and meet one-on-one with a planner.

The team consists of 4 staff planners, responsible for:

• Application intakes and pre-screenings to ensure all submittal requirements are included.
• Responding to planning and zoning Inquiries.
• Conducting zoning reviews for business licenses.
• Processing land use applications.

• Applications Pre-screened: 914 Conducted 914 application pre-screens.
• Business License Reviews: Conducted 2,026 reviews for zoning compliance.
• Quick Turnaround Reviews: Conducted 281 quick turnaround reviews, which include 214 Zoning Verification Letters and 67 Minor Alterations approved within 2 days of submission.
• Zoning Verification Letters: Processed 214 zoning verification letters.
• Walk-ins: Assisted a total of 505 walk-ins.
• Phone Calls: Responded to 4,186 phone calls to the planning counter.
• Email Inquiries: Responded to 1,864 email inquiries sent to the  zoning@slc.gov  email address.

The Development Review Team performs zoning reviews for all building permits that require a site plan.

The team consists of 6 planners and 1 supervisor, responsible for:

• Conducting zoning reviews for all building permits that require a site plan.
• Conducting and overseeing Development Review Team* (DRT) meetings.

* Development Review Team (DRT) is where people preparing for an application can meet with representatives from all city departments that have to review permits to get input and guidance on applicable codes, regulations, and any significant issues. This is often misnamed as the design review team, but no design review occurs with this team.

• Zoning Reviews: Conducted 4,451 zoning reviews on building permits.
• DRT Meetings: Conducted 198 meetings with applicants.

This year, a total of 914 applications were submitted to the Planning Division. Land Use Applications are categorized as follows:

•  Appeals 
•  Historic Landmark Commission 
•  Planning Commission 
•  Subdivisions 
•  Zoning Administration 

A total of 10 appeal applications were submitted in 2024, including 3 appeals of decisions made by the commissions, and 7 appeals of administrative decisions.

• Appeal of Historic Landmark Commission Decision at approximately 1345 E Normandie.
• Appeal of a Planning Commission Decision at 220 & 250 S 200 East.
• Appeal of a Planning Commission Decision at 675 N F Street.

• Appeal of a Zoning Violation at approximately 1443 E Kensington Ave.
• Appeal of an Administrative Interpretation at approximately 950 S 500 West.
• Variance Request for an oversized Accessory Building at approximately 1185 S Jeremy St.
• Appeal of a COA Denial at Approximately 370 N 200 West.
• Variance Request for Off-Street Parking at Approximately 563 Center Street.
• Appeal of Administrative Interpretation at Approximately 617 S 1200 E,
• Variance Request for Setback and Building Coverage at Approximately 1101 W 400 S. 

A total of 413 Historic Landmark Commission applications were submitted in 2024. This category of application includes all requests to modify a property that is either designated as  Local Historic Landmark  or within a  Local Historic District .

• Demolition of Contributing Building | 4
• Demolition of Non-Contributing Building | 2
• Major Alteration | 8
• Minor Alteration | 388
• New Construction | 7
• Reconstruction | 3
• Relocation | 1

The HLC reviewed 19 agenda items in 2024, the agenda website was accessed 1,330 times, and HLC meeting recordings were viewed over 619 times on the Salt Lake City YouTube channel.

A total of 126 Planning Commission applications were submitted in 2024. This category of applications includes 10 different request types, some of which are reviewed and approved administratively by staff.

• Alley Vacations | 5
• Conditional Use | 13
• Design Review | 16
• General Plan Amendment | 1
• Planned Development | 24
• Street Closure | 1
• Transit Station Development | 17
• Zoning Amendments | 29
• Zoning Incentives | 20

The Planning Commission reviewed 139 agenda items in 2024, the agenda website was accessed 9,208 times, and PC meeting recordings were viewed over 4,693 times on the Salt Lake City YouTube channel.

A total of 118 Subdivision applications were submitted in 2024. This category of applications includes 4 different request types.

• Consolidations | 24
• Final Plat Approvals | 33
• Lot Line Adjustments | 12
• Preliminary Subdivisions | 49

A total of 247 Zoning Administration applications were submitted in 2024. This category of applications includes 4 different request types.

• Administrative Interpretations | 8
• Determinations of Non-Conforming Use | 14
• Variances | 11
• Zoning Verification Letters | 214

In 2024, the division hosted 120 Online Open Houses, including 60 projects from previous years and 60 projects for 2024, with a total of 13,254 visits.

At the beginning of 2020, the Planning Division launched Online Open Houses, providing constituents with the opportunity to review projects and submit comments and questions without attending in-person events. These online open houses have attracted significantly higher traffic and engagement compared to traditional in-person events.

Planning staff from multiple teams led one of the most comprehensive zoning amendments in the City’s history.

The proposed text and map changes aim to consolidate 26 existing commercial, form-based, and mixed-use zoning districts into six new mixed-use (MU) districts. This effort seeks to streamline zoning regulations, promote a blend of commercial and residential uses, and encourage neighborhood-oriented amenities. The new mixed-use zoning districts will be like the current zones but will have changes to setbacks, building height, lot coverage, permitted land uses, and related provisions. This proposal seeks to create a desirable mix of commercial and residential uses, as well as neighborhood-focused amenities. Within this framework, buildings are scaled to be context appropriate and to enhance neighborhood placemaking and walkability. This effort also incorporates enhanced building design standards to ensure that new development is attractive and positively contributes to each mixed-use neighborhood.

The proposal will be presented to the City Council for consideration later this year, with anticipated adoption sometime in 2025.

In 2024, the Sustainability Team worked on the following initiatives:  

Made changes to city code to promote the retention and adaptive reuse of buildings by offering zoning incentives, including expanded allowable uses, reduced parking requirements, regulatory modifications, additional building height, and a streamlined review process. These incentives align with the City’s plans and policies related to community character, housing, historic preservation, sustainability, and economic development. By reducing regulatory barriers and encouraging reinvestment in existing structures, these changes help minimize demolition waste, support sustainable development, and preserve the architectural and cultural character of neighborhoods.

This project updated zoning requirements to create clearer, more effective standards for landscaping that promote water conservation, improve air quality, prioritize trees, reduce the urban heat island effect, and minimize stormwater runoff. Developed through close collaboration with other city divisions—including Public Utilities, Civil Enforcement, and Urban Forestry—as well as a year-long public outreach process, the final regulations reflect community priorities and support the city’s long-term sustainability goals.

In 2024, the Equity Team worked on the following initiatives:

Initiated in 2023 and adopted in 2024, this project implemented priority policies in the adopted Thriving in Place Plan related to combating ongoing displacement and gentrification.  The project included the creation of the new Title 19 General Plans and amendments to Title 21A.50 Amendments. These amendments replaced the housing loss mitigation ordinance. Additionally, the proposal included the establishment of a community benefit policy for general plan and zoning amendments, the creation of tenant relocation assistance, replacement housing unit requirements for demolitions associated with requested amendments, and new standards when analyzing a zoning or general plan amendment that encompasses impacts from potential tenant displacement. The amendment requires an applicant to provide a community benefit associated with a requested zoning map or zoning text amendment. 

In March of 2024, the City Council approved text amendments that reduce zoning barriers for Home Daycares and Child Daycare Centers in the City. These amendments included modifying definitions to align with State Code, expanding the zones where Daycare Centers are Permitted, and creating standards for Home Daycares under Home Occupation that align with State regulations.

The equity team is working on updating the Northwest Community Plan. The team is currently compiling an assessment of the existing conditions and compliance with adopted citywide plans. Once the existing conditions report is published, the team will start working with the community on identifying future community goals to build a tangible and accessible policy framework. This plan update is anticipated to be finalized early 2026.

In 2024, the Growth Team worked on the following initiatives:

This amendment was adopted in December 2023 and went into effect April 30, 2024. The implementation of the AHI in 2024 included creating an application process and preparing an online handbook to help those seeking more information about how to use the incentives. In 2024, there were 20 presubmittal meetings held with staff to discuss potential affordable development projects and five applications submitted by the end of the year.

The Ballpark Neighborhood Station Area Plan approved in 2023 identified areas of the Ballpark neighborhood where modifications to the existing zoning were necessary to fully implement the goals and policies that were outlined in the adopted plan. Through this process existing zones were proposed for much of the area allowing for appropriate mixed-use growth and a new zone, MU-8, was created for those higher density areas along 1300 S.

Staff created a report detailing the history of R-1 zoning in Salt Lake City. This report provided information about current trends in housing with existing ordinances and researched what other communities nationwide were doing to create additional housing types allowing for additional compatible density in existing neighborhoods. This report was presented to the City Council and they requested that the group return with a more defined proposal for future discussions in 2025.

Staff completed several amendments to the Zoning Ordinance that helped to promote quality, sustainable economic growth in various areas of the city. Distribution centers and similar uses were prohibited in areas of the Inland Port, taller front-yard fences were allowed in the nearby International Center, and regulations were added outlining where gas stations can be located to protect environmentally sensitive areas and public lands.

In 2024, the Opportunity Team worked on the following initiatives:

The team conducted a study on the existing RMF-35/45 zones to assess their current functionality. The study revealed that these zones have not been effective in promoting multi-family development or “missing middle” housing as intended. In response, the team created a proposal aimed at promoting the development of more housing while supporting residents in existing moderate-density neighborhoods. This proposal was made available for public input in December 2024 and is scheduled for a Planning Commission public hearing in March 2025.

To implement the Northpoint Small Area Plan (adopted in November 2023), the City Council adopted Northpoint Light Industrial M-1A Zoning District at their January 7, 2025, meeting after an extensive public input and adoption process. The new zone is intended to provide an environment for light industrial, office, and research uses, while reducing the impact on adjacent residential and agricultural properties. The proposed zoning district includes several design standards for new development, building size restrictions, and open space preservation incentives to meet the vision of the Northpoint Small Area Plan.

After an extensive public engagement process, the draft plan for the area around Central Pointe Station was published and the formal adoption process was begun. The plan will help the City meet the State’s Station Area Plan requirements for areas near transit and will support creating additional housing and open space in the area. The plan will be going to the City Council for their consideration this year.

In 2024, the Zoning Administrator Team worked on several updates to the zoning ordinance, including the following amendments:

Added tools to address unlawful construction and demolition in local historic districts and established a clear process to remedy alterations or any demolitions that occur without approval.

Simplified the code by eliminating a long and impractical list of terms and unused definitions. The project also clarified definitions and updated terms for code consistency.

Revisited and corrected standards that were adopted in the 2022 Parking Chapter update to better address driveway, driveway access and loading.

Made minor corrections to align standards with district intent, clarify exemptions, and fix references.

Proposed permitting outdoor live performance theaters in certain zones per City Council’s request.

Ongoing effort to update regulations that would align food truck, trailer, and vending cart regulations with state code and address equity issues with standards.