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Council denies text amendment to allow reception centers in ‘neighborhood’ commercial zones; applicant told to pursue rezoning to gateway district
Summary
The council voted to deny a text amendment that would have permitted reception centers in the city’s Commercial Neighborhood zone, and encouraged the applicant to pursue a separate rezone to Commercial Gateway that staff and the planning commission had recommended as a better fit for the Redwood Road location.
Riverton planning staff presented a requested text amendment to the commercial‑use table that would have made “reception centers” a permitted use in the Commercial Neighborhood (CN) zoning classification. The request related to a property on Redwood Road where the owner wants to expand community uses, including small events and recital space.
The applicant appeared at the meeting. A speaker who identified herself as Alice White said her property houses the Wasatch Arts Center and that the owner wants to use space for small community events, music recitals and other gatherings. Planning staff noted the requested text amendment would be citywide for all CN parcels; planning staff and the planning commission recommended an alternative path: rezone this specific parcel to Commercial Gateway (a different commercial classification along Redwood Road) because Gateway zoning better fits the corridor and already allows reception centers.
Council discussion focused on two practical points: (1) the text amendment would open reception centers across all CN parcels, which the planning commission and staff judged broader than intended; and (2) the applicant’s property sits on Redwood Road with commercial frontage and masonry fencing that make it an appropriate candidate for a gateway rezone. Several council members urged the applicant to file the rezone application already in process; staff confirmed a separate rezone application from the owner is scheduled to appear before the planning commission later in the month.
The council voted to deny the text amendment (ordinance 25‑05). Members recorded in the meeting minutes as voting in favor of the denial included Council Member Broker (mover), Council Member McDougall, Council Member Perucci, Council Member McKay and Council Member Hamon; the motion carried. Council members also said they would support the applicant’s pending rezone to Commercial Gateway and the mayor directed staff to consider reimbursing the applicant’s rezone application fee if the council later acts to support gateway rezoning.
Why it matters: The decision preserves the current table of permitted uses for CN zones and points the applicant toward a targeted rezone process — a narrower, parcel‑specific route that requires public notice and planning‑commission review. The council’s denial does not prevent the owner from pursuing a gateway rezone, and several council members signaled they would support that path and consider fee relief.
What’s next: The rezone application to change the parcel to Commercial Gateway will proceed to the planning commission for notice and review; the applicant may receive partial fee reimbursement if council supports it at a future meeting.
Direct quote: “If there ever were a point where you were looking to make changes, there would be requirements that come into play. They would be the same for the commercial neighborhood as for Gateway,” planning staff told the council, explaining rezoning implications.
