Planning Commission approves 20-unit townhome project at 910 E. 400 S. with design and setback exceptions

The Salt Lake City Planning Commission on July 23 approved a plan development, preliminary subdivision plat and design review for a proposed 20-unit townhome development at approximately 910 East 400 South, with added conditions addressing signage/lighting and pedestrian access. Staff recommended approval; the commission voted 6–2 to approve the design review and 7–1 to approve the plan development. The preliminary subdivision plat also passed.

The project, presented by city planner Olivia (staff), would construct three attached buildings containing 20 ownership townhome units with rear-loaded garages and rooftop decks on a corner parcel at 900 East and 400 South. Buildings are four stories and range from about 32 feet to 45.5 feet in height. The applicant requested several zoning modifications: reductions in side setbacks (Building 2 from 45 feet to 5 feet and Building 3 from 32 feet to 5 feet), a rear setback reduction for Building 3 from 32 feet to 17 feet, an allowance for lots without direct public street frontage, a 6-foot fence in part of the front yard along 400 South (code limit 4 feet), and multiple design relief items including TSA scores below the 125-point threshold and reduced ground-floor glazing and entrance features along 400 South and 900 East.

Why it matters: the site is in the Central Community TSA district and the commission weighed trade-offs between expanding ownership housing and maintaining a walkable, street-oriented frontage along a primary transit corridor. Staff told…