The South Salt Lake City Council approved an ordinance amending chapters 17.01, 17.03 and 17.04 of the South Salt Lake Municipal Code to add a definition of “luxury vehicle,” expand the definition of automotive restoration and allow automotive restoration as a permitted use in the Business Park District.

Senior planner Spencer Collie told the council the amendments were split out from a larger auto-related zoning overhaul and were prompted by a request from the owners of Alpine Auto. Collie read the proposed definition into the record: “Vehicle luxury means vehicles that offer higher to exceptional levels of driving comfort. These vehicles are equipped with advanced superior levels of technology pertaining to the interior cabin elements, the exterior safety components, convenience features, and performance elements. These features and amenities are considered exclusive to these vehicles and would not be found in regular consumer vehicles.”

The ordinance also amends the existing automotive restoration standards. Collie said changes include extending the buffer that triggers restricted operating hours from businesses within 150 feet of a residential district to 200 feet, prohibiting outdoor storage for automotive restoration uses, and banning storage of inoperable vehicles outdoors.

Sam Plumb of Alpine Auto Renovation described the shop’s capabilities and said the change would formalize a use that already exists at the site. “We are the only fully certified BMW collision center in the state of Utah. We’re the only fully certified Porsche collision center in the state of Utah,” Plumb said, adding that Alpine Auto holds other high-end certifications and that parts for these vehicles are typically air-shipped and arrive in about two to four days.

Councilmembers debated whether the staff-proposed definition is sufficiently specific. One councilmember asked whether a damaged or older Mercedes-Benz would still qualify as a luxury vehicle; Plumb responded that the definition intentionally focuses on vehicle characteristics and the certifications and standards of the provider rather than a fixed list of makes or model years.

Discussion also addressed outdoor storage and hours of operation. City staff noted that the city’s general code already prohibits outdoor storage citywide and that a 72-hour outdoor parking limit exists for auto-related uses; the ordinance would add a no-outdoor-storage standard specifically for automotive restoration uses that typically house high-value or classic vehicles indoors. Councilmembers raised neighborhood concerns about early-morning operations near homes; the amended standard increases the buffer from 150 to 200 feet for the 7 a.m. start but does not roll back citywide noise rules that follow Salt Lake County standards for quiet hours.

Councilmember Clarissa moved to approve the ordinance, and Councilmember Corey seconded. The motion passed.

The ordinance authorizes the city to treat automotive restoration involving luxury vehicles as a permitted use in the Business Park District and clarifies operational limits staff will enforce. Staff said Alpine Auto is present and expects to expand into an adjacent building to maintain indoor storage of high-value vehicles.

The council did not specify an effective date during the meeting; staff will incorporate the ordinance language into the municipal code and administer the new standards through permitting and site plan review.