Council declines proposal to make park strips optional after months of study and debate

After more than two hours of discussion on April 29, the Sandy City Council voted 4–3 to deny a resolution that would have directed staff to consider removing required park strips from the city’s residential design standards.

Council member Brooke Sharkey introduced the resolution, citing years of research into park strip maintenance, water usage, sidewalk damage from street‑tree roots and the potential to free right‑of‑way space for denser housing, active‑transportation lanes and wider sidewalks. Sharkey told the council she had spoken with city employees across multiple departments, builders, traffic engineers and residents and that many departments saw drawbacks to the traditional “park strip” placement for trees and utilities.

Supporters of the proposal argued the change could lower construction costs and make land-use more flexible for modern infill housing and active-transportation designs, while preserving tree canopy by planting behind sidewalks. Opponents — including several department heads, city planners and some council members — urged caution, saying park strips provide utility access, a predictable location for hydrants/meters/mailboxes, and a perceived pedestrian buffer that contributes to safety and street aesthetics.

Council member Marcy Houseman said the city’s current process already allows developers to request waivers from park strip standards and that changing the code broadly could remove useful oversight. Several council members asked staff to study the issue through formal code‑amendment channels rather than change the requirement in this resolution. Council member Sharkey said she sought only to have staff and the Planning Commission evaluate the policy and return with recommendations; other members said they preferred staff-led study without the stronger directive to make park strips optional.

When the council called the question and voted, the motion failed 4–3. Council members voting against the measure cited concerns about snow stacking, hydrant visibility, street lighting and continuity in built neighborhoods. Council members who supported it highlighted potential water savings, reduced sidewalk trip hazards caused by tree roots, and possible savings for developers that could slightly improve housing affordability in constrained infill parcels.

Action: Resolution 25-15C (directing consideration of removing park strips as a required residential design standard) failed on a 4–3 vote.