The West Valley City Council on Nov. 26 voted unanimously to remove the Decker Lake overlay zone and to adopt associated zoning changes for five properties previously covered by that overlay.

Council discussion and two ordinances: Councilmembers first approved ordinance 24-47 to remove the overlay zone for properties between 3100 South and 3500 South. Staff told the council the overlay remained only on five properties because the area is now mostly developed; any future land-use rules for the Decker Lake light-rail station area will be set through a station-area study required by state law.

After taking public comment (no speakers on the record), the council approved ordinance 24-47 unanimously. The council then approved ordinance 24-48 to remove the overlay designation from the five specific parcels and update the zoning map; that ordinance also passed unanimously.

Why it matters: Removing an overlay zone and cleaning the zoning map simplifies the city’s code where the overlay is no longer broadly applicable and defers station-area policy-making to the dedicated Decker Lake station study.

What staff said: City staff explained the removal is proposed because ‘‘the area is now mostly developed’’ and that the city is working with a consultant required by state law to create project areas around light-rail stations. The staff remarks also noted only five properties remain subject to the overlay and those are addressed in the subsequent application.

Next steps: The council’s actions remove the overlay from city maps and leave future, station-area-specific land-use regulations to be determined at the conclusion of the study the city is undertaking for the Decker Lake light-rail station.