The Murray City Planning Commission on Jan. 2, 2025 voted unanimously to forward to the City Council both a future land use map amendment and a zoning map amendment for the property along 1300 East commonly referenced in the staff report as 6500 South 1300 East.

Staff planner David Rogers told the commission the subject parcel is about 0.69 acres and is currently designated low-density residential on the future land use map and zoned R18. The staff report recommended redesignation to Neighborhood Business (future land use) and rezoning to RNB, saying the change would allow an appropriate form of redevelopment that is compatible with nearby properties and consistent with goals of the Murray City General Plan. Rogers told commissioners the RNB zone is intended for small-scale, mixed residential or commercial uses along corridors and that the RNB standards are generally more restrictive in building height and setbacks than the R18 zone in certain respects.

Rogers summarized applicable standards: R18 height 35 feet; RNB typical standard 20 feet (can reach up to 30 feet with Planning Commission approval); front-yard setbacks: R18 25 feet vs. RNB 20 feet; side-yard minimums and parking standards vary by use. Staff mailed 91 notices to nearby property owners and affected entities and received one inquiry about potential encroachments from Salt Lake City and an emailed comment from the Little Cottonwood Tanner Ditch Company (LCTDC). The LCTDC’s secretary, Max Reese, asked the commission to record that the ditch runs along the front of the property, that construction could impact an existing pipe and that the ditch company must be involved in any work affecting the 15-foot easement.

Commissioners discussed the property’s annexation history, noting the lot was included in an annexation in 2003 and initially assigned a single-family designation at that time. Several commissioners said the parcel has limited access (only from 1300 East) and that RNB has been used elsewhere along 13th East and Winchester to allow redevelopment that fits a residential scale while protecting single-family neighborhoods. The commission discussed the benefits of reviewing other annexed parcels in the next general-plan update.

Commissioner Ned Hacker moved to forward a recommendation of approval to the City Council for the future land use map amendment; Commissioner Lisa Mokovich seconded. The commission then voted unanimously in favor. The commission separately moved and seconded a recommendation to amend the zoning map from R18 to RNB; that motion also passed unanimously. The chair noted the item will move to the City Council for final action and encouraged public attendance at that hearing.

An emailed comment from the Little Cottonwood Tanner Ditch Company was entered into the record; staff acknowledged the ditch company’s concern that construction could impact existing ditch infrastructure and easement access and said the company would need to be involved for any construction affecting the ditch.