Downtown residents oppose exemption for Delta Center garage; council defers decision

The Salt Lake City Council closed the public hearing and deferred action on a development agreement and zoning-map amendment that would allow a seven‑story parking garage with about 450 stalls at the Delta Center site.

Speakers representing downtown residents and businesses urged the council not to grant an exemption from the city's ground‑floor activation ordinance — a rule intended to ensure sidewalks and street frontages remain pedestrian‑oriented and lively. Several commenters said granting an exemption would weaken longstanding urban-design goals for downtown.

“Weakening the ordinance undermines the city's vision for a vibrant, inclusive downtown,” said Emily Sloan Pace, speaking for the downtown community. “A vehicle‑oriented garage without meaningful pedestrian design isolates the downtown experience.”

Steven Otterstrom, who said he watched an earlier work session, told the council that timeline concerns raised by the arena developers did not justify an exception and that the city should insist the developer meet pedestrian‑oriented design standards. “Either you hold the line or they do whatever they want for the rest of this development,” he said.

City staff identified the project as a proposed development agreement governing the garage’s construction and design. The applicant requested a waiver of the active‑use requirement on the ground floor; the garage would be located on the southwest corner of the Delta Center site.

Councilmembers closed the public hearing and deferred action to a future meeting. The motion to close and defer was moved by Councilmember Dugan and seconded by Councilmember Repuih and was recorded as passing unanimously.

Ending: The council did not vote on the development agreement itself; it deferred consideration to allow more time for review of design options and for the city to address pedestrian‑activation concerns.