Salt Lake City Planning Commission opposes rezoning proposal in Emigration Canyon
Jun 28, 2024, 9:00 PM
The area for the proposed Emigration Canyon rezoning is east of Utah's Hogle Zoo, close to an existing high-rise condominium tower.(Carter Williams, KSL.com)
(Carter Williams, KSL.com)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Planning Commission unanimously supported a motion this week to oppose the development of a high-rise condominium in Emigration Canyon.
The area for the proposed Emigration Canyon rezoning is east of Utah’s Hogle Zoo, close to an existing high-rise condominium tower.
Developers want to build a high-rise condominium with as many as 335 units, though fire restrictions would likely keep it under 199 units. The original zone allows for around 12 units.
The commission heard the proposal during a meeting on meeting on Wednesday.
The proposal
Lance Anderson from AnA Enterprise, the company that applied for the rezoning on behalf of the property owner, said in the meeting that there were several issues with housing in the area that could be solved with the proposed condominium.
AnA’s proposal argued that the condominium would accommodate the city’s increasing population.
The proposal also said that commercial properties in the area make the property “less appealing for single-family residential lots.”
AnA’s proposal also said the “Site plan was designed to accommodate the necessary setbacks for Emigration Creek/Riparian Corridor and taking into consideration minimal ground displacement to the mountain.”
Opposition
Residents spoke against this development during the meeting.
“Adding a substantially larger number of people, cars, lights, all the things to this area will fundamentally change the characteristic of this land and this parcels,” resident Sarah Baldwin said.
Another resident, Kris Tollinger expressed similar concerns about the environment.
“High-density residential development could lead to increased erosion, habitat destruction, and negatively impact the watershed and wildlife,” Kris Tollinger said at the meeting.
Others expressed their concerns about increasing traffic congestion, water pollution, and damage to riparian areas.
Ultimately, the SLC Planning Commission gave the proposal a negative recommendation.
The Salt Lake City Council is next to consider the rezoning proposal, but there is no date for this consideration.
Sam Herrera contributed to this article.
