The Salt Lake City Planning Commission on Oct. 10 approved a design review for a purpose‑built student housing project proposed by Col West at 410 South 900 East, voting 7‑0 to accept staff’s recommendation with conditions.

The project, submitted in May 2025 and scored 128 points under the TSA (Transit Station Area) scoring system, proposes a rooming/boarding‑house land use, a 425‑foot‑plus building length, modified setbacks, reduced ground‑floor glazing and fewer building entrances than the base standards. Staff recommended approval with four conditions; the commission adopted the design review as presented.

Staff said the site faces the tracks platform to the north, has the former Bennion Elementary to the south and a new townhome development to the east. Planning Department staff noted the application met the TSA score requirement (128 points) and found the proposal compliant with Plan Salt Lake and the Central Community Plan. Staff also described four requested departures from standards: building length over 200 feet, an increased front setback to 11 feet (58% of frontage instead of the required 50% at 10 feet), one unit floor‑to‑ceiling height of 11 feet rather than 12 feet, and reductions along 900 East in corner side yard setback, ground‑floor glazing (requested 44% vs. 60% required), active uses and building entrances.

Walker Wood, vice president of development for Col West, told commissioners the project is Col West’s first purpose‑built student housing in Salt Lake City and that the developer intends the building to serve students from the University of Utah, Neumont College, Ensign College, Westminster University and Salt Lake Community College. “We are proposing our first purpose built student housing opportunity,” Wood said. Mina Lam, lead architect with Lamar Johnson Collaborative, described a design that splits the mass into two connected volumes with internal courtyards, removes two curb cuts on 400 South and consolidates vehicle access to a single service curb cut on 900 East to maintain continuous pedestrian flow.

Design details noted in the staff packet and presentation include a 425 feet, 6 inches at‑grade building length; reduction of ground‑floor glazing from 60% to 44% because the loading area was moved interior; a concealed two‑story parking garage with a single entry on 900 East; 23 new street trees to be planted at grade and green roofs/roof courtyards that will retain about 16,000 gallons of stormwater; two bike rooms with workshops accessed off 400 South and 900 East; and a mix of brick, metal and wood at the two‑story base with fiber‑cement panels above. The applicant said common commercial spaces (makerspace, cafe, coworking lounge) will be built out before occupancy and the exterior plaza areas will be privately owned but publicly accessible, with on‑site management/security monitoring.

Commissioners asked about coordination with the Utah Transit Authority on the adjacent bus stop; the applicant said early conversations and traffic studies have occurred but UTA has not provided a conclusive response. Commissioners also asked whether the building will be income‑restricted or limited to students; the applicant said there are no tenant restrictions — units are marketed to students and leased by the bed to reflect student rental practices, but the project is not legally restricted to students. Planning staff noted some income‑restricted programs treat student income differently, which complicates applying standard low‑income restrictions.

Several commissioners praised the reduction in curb cuts along 400 South and the articulation that breaks the long mass into distinct volumes. Commissioners and staff discussed how substantial changes to setbacks, glazing or material composition would be handled under the code; staff said minor material changes may be administratively approved but changes to materials that alter the overall material palette by type or exceed the code’s thresholds would return to the commission.

The motion to approve the design review as requested by staff carried unanimously, 7‑0. The commission’s approval incorporated the staff conditions listed in the staff report.