Salt Lake Metropolis planners advocate modifications in how single-family neighborhoods get zoned

SALT LAKE CITY – A brand new report from the Salt Lake Metropolis Planning Division recommends zoning modifications for single-family neighborhoods to assist tackle town’s housing provide crunch. Any modifications may have an effect on residential areas from Sugar Home to Rose Park.

Listed here are a number of the essential options from the report:

• Decreasing the minimal measurement of single-family housing zones. R-1, or single-family housing zones, would have a baseline of 5,000 sq. ft as a substitute of seven,000 or 12,000. That might probably enable homeowners of 5,011 heaps to subdivide their property and construct a brand new housing unit on high.
• Permitting single-family connected housing models. These may appear to be duplexes, townhomes, or indifferent cottages. Connected single-family models would assist create what the report known as “lacking center housing.” That refers back to the above examples of buildings between the dimensions of a indifferent single-family house and a mid-rise house constructing.
• Consolidating all single-family guidelines into one chapter. This may simplify zoning legal guidelines, however “won’t assist tackle housing points or wants.”
• Holding the three sorts of single-family housing zones. This may preserve the established order.

Different suggestions embrace eliminating the minimal lot measurement solely and reducing the required “setback,” or distance between the road and a house.

Predicted responses to beneficial zoning modifications in Salt Lake

The report predicted blowback from sure owners if the Salt Lake Metropolis Council had been to decide on both of the primary two choices.

It mentioned this resistance could possibly be particularly intense in neighborhoods put aside for 7,000- to 12,000-square-foot heaps. Nevertheless, many of those homeowners are already noncompliant with metropolis legislation and have homes constructed on parcels smaller than the required minimal. This modification would make many noncompliant heaps authorized.

The Planning Division mentioned the trail of the connected single-family housing unit “will generate a excessive stage of opposition.” Nevertheless, it additionally mentioned the plan would in all probability end in new house building.

Neighborhoods that would really feel the consequences

In line with a zoning map of Salt Lake Metropolis, some neighborhoods with R-1 zoning for 7,000- or 12,000-square-foot heaps embrace Bonneville Hills and the East Bench.

Highland Park and Sugar Home fall into the R-1/7,000 class. So do Rose Park and Glendale.

Most historic neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, the Avenues, and Central Metropolis could be exempt from any modifications due to their particular standing. Solely the Yalecrest neighborhood would nonetheless be affected.

The necessity for brand new housing

FJ Administration CEO Crystal Maggelet advised the Deseret Information final fall that since 2011, Utah has misplaced 41% of its reasonably priced housing. Maggelet mentioned that’s nearly two occasions the loss skilled in California and New York.

In line with Zillow.com, the typical value of a house within the Salt Lake Metropolis space is simply over $551,000.