Planning staff outlines moderate-income housing report work; council urged to set priorities on ADUs and rezoning strategies

City planning staff briefed the council on work underway for the moderate‑income housing report due Aug. 1, described progress on three recommended strategies (ADUs, higher-density zoning, and map amendments) and asked the council for direction on prioritization for next year.

Staff said they have gathered lot-level data, identified available ADU capacity and noted current permitting. Planning staff reported that five ADUs were permitted this year and that the planning commission has recommended increasing the maximum allowed size for detached ADUs; staff indicated they would bring a zoning amendment to the council for consideration at a future meeting.

Staff described three strategies used in the report: (e) encouraging ADUs and considering increased allowed sizes; (f) rezoning to allow higher-density residential and mixed-use in targeted areas; and (g) amending land-use maps to reflect recent approvals and guide future similar projects. Staff suggested the ADU work is showing results and could be cycled out next year in favor of other, more actionable strategies, and proposed quarterly check-ins or work sessions with council and the planning commission to track progress.

Council members asked staff to circulate the full list of available strategies and requested continued collaboration with WFRC (the Wasatch Front Regional Council) staff assisting on the report. Staff said Madison Veil of WFRC is helping with the report and that staff will distribute the strategy list for council review.

Staff asked for council feedback on whether to keep the current strategies for next year or to select new priorities; council members supported additional study time and more regular check-ins so that next year’s report would be more robust and actionable.

Planning staff said they will return with the ADU sizing amendment and a proposed schedule for quarterly progress checks.