Council finds two small Murray parcels impractical for station-area plans, will seek regional concurrence

City planning staff presented two resolutions Oct. 7 asking the council to find it impracticable to develop station-area plans for small parcels that fall within the statutory radius of transit stations but lack meaningful connection to those stations.

City staff explained that state law requires cities to adopt station-area plans for properties within a quarter-mile of bus rapid transit stops and within a half-mile of fixed-rail stations. Staff recommended that the council adopt resolutions concluding that two narrowly defined Murray parcels — slivers separated by I‑15 and existing industrial uses — are not practically related to the adjacent Meadowbrook (fixed-rail) and East Atherton (bus rapid transit) station areas.

"These areas are existing industrial properties, separated from that station by a major barrier such as I‑15, and really not areas that have potential for meaningful station-area planning," a city staff speaker said.

Council member Carter moved adoption of the East Atherton impracticability resolution and Council member Pickett seconded; the roll call vote was 5–0 in favor. Council member Goodman moved adoption of the Meadowbrook impracticability resolution and Council member Turner seconded; the roll call vote was 5–0 in favor.

Staff said the next step is to forward the council’s findings to the Wasatch Front Regional Council for concurrence, anticipated later in October. Those regional confirmations complete the statutory process for areas that the city has determined are impracticable to include in station-area plans.