Planning Commission approves Jordan River Flats townhome development amid mobility and fire-access concerns

Salt Lake City Planning Commission on June 25 approved a plan development and a preliminary subdivision plat for the Jordan River Flats townhome project, a proposed development near the Jordan River that would create 163 townhome units. The commission voted 7–1 to approve the plan-development application and 8–0 to approve the preliminary subdivision plat. Both approvals included the staff-recommended condition that the applicant obtain permits from Salt Lake County Flood Control and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before development proceeds.

City staff presented the application and recommendation. City staff member Diana told commissioners, “Staff is recommending that the planning commission approve both applications ... with 1 condition,” and said that the required condition is that “the applicant must receive permits from Salt Lake County Flood Control and the Army Corps of Engineers before development on this property can proceed.” The staff presentation described the site as roughly 6.5 acres west of I‑15 near the Jordan River and Glendale Park, and summarized project features in the staff report.

The project proposes 163 individually owned townhome lots (staff materials list 163 units) arranged in attached buildings with on‑site amenities along the river. The staff report and the applicant’s materials describe private internal roads, 2 parking spaces per unit, and 21 visitor parking spaces distributed through the site. The plans show a mix of building elevations and rooftop decks, a clubhouse and pool, a dog park, and a mulch path immediately adjacent to the river where paved paths were replaced with mulch to meet riparian setback limits.

Applicant Matthew Pockris, representing Access Architects, said the design aims to “create a product that’s quality, that isn’t sacrificing quality for affordability,” and highlighted rooftop decks, balconies, EV‑ready garages and riverfront amenities. He described the site as an opportunity for more owner‑occupied housing near Glendale Park and transit corridors.

Commissioners focused much of their discussion on mobility and connectivity, emergency access and livability within a private development of this scale. Commissioner Lila Rosenfield said she could not support the plan-development motion as presented, stating, “I am not comfortable voting yes on this motion, given the concerns that I've raised regarding mobility.” Rosenfield pressed for stronger multimodal connections to 2100 South and to the Jordan River Trail. Staff and the applicant said the site connects to an existing trail entrance within a short walk but that a maintenance road owned by Salt Lake County blocks a direct connection at one point and that the county is unlikely to grant an easement.

Several commissioners and staff discussed fire access and potential later adjustments during building‑permit review. Commissioners asked whether the fire department’s comments are reflected in the current drawings and whether private internal streets could be widened or otherwise altered if the fire review requires changes. Staff said the fire department has reviewed the plans and that building‑permit review will require the applicant to meet fire requirements; the commission can require that significant post‑approval changes come back to the commission. Commissioner Richard Leverett urged tying any required changes to standards so the commission can review effects on livability if road or turnaround requirements force plan alterations.

Other committee questions included parking counts and landscape requirements. Staff confirmed the proposal shows two spaces per unit plus 21 guest stalls and said the landscape/tree requirements for the 2100 South frontage and project landscaping are being met in the current submittal. Commissioners also discussed the project’s compliance with the Westside master plan mobility goals and noted that the CG zoning district allows much greater height and density if the developer chose a different configuration; the plan-development process limits some outcomes but does not change the underlying zone allowances.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (conditional use for a bar at approximately 416 East 900 South; modification to plan development at approximately 707 South 400 East; approval of meeting minutes for May 14 and May 28): approved (consent motion). Several commissioners abstained from voting on the minutes when they were not present for the prior meetings; the consent agenda passed as recorded in the minutes.

- Plan development (PLN‑PCM‑2023‑567, Jordan River Flats — plan development application): approved 7–1. Commissioner Lila Rosenfield voted no; other commissioners voted yes. Approval included the staff condition requiring permits from Salt Lake County Flood Control and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and compliance with all standard agency reviews (fire, utilities, building permits).

- Preliminary subdivision plat (PLN‑SUB‑2020‑1069, Jordan River Flats — preliminary subdivision plat): approved 8–0. Approval carried with the same staff‑listed conditions.

The commission discussed options for adding conditions that would require further connectivity or additions to the internal pedestrian network, but the majority agreed the application met the plan‑development standards as written. The staff‑recommended condition tying project start to flood‑control and Corps permits remains in place.

Commissioners and staff noted next steps: the applicant must satisfy agency conditions during building‑permit review, secure required floodplain and Corps permits and address any fire department requirements before construction. The developer will also complete final engineering and a final plat as part of the subdivision process.

For background: staff materials describe the site as a roughly 6½‑acre assemblage west of I‑15 near Glendale Park and the Jordan River Trail, in a CG (commercial general) zone. The materials cite modifications requested from city ordinances to allow most buildings without direct frontage on a public street and to allow individual ownership through a preliminary subdivision plat. The staff report pointed Commission members to those code sections and listed standard public‑safety and utilities reviews as outstanding conditions.