Planning Commission approves conditional use permit for family interim housing at 315 West 33100 South

The South Salt Lake Planning Commission voted unanimously Jan. 16 to approve a conditional use permit (CUP C240008) to operate a family interim non‑congregate housing facility at 315 West 33100 South, a former motel the city plans to convert to short‑term housing for families.

City staff presented the proposal and the regulatory history before the commission, and representatives of the applicant organizations — Shelter the Homeless and The Road Home — described their plans and said they intend to partner with the city and local service providers.

The CUP will allow the facility, referred to in staff materials as “the Finch,” to operate under detailed conditions addressing site operations, safety, and neighbor mitigation. The commission’s action follows a zone‑change and ordinance amendment the City Council approved Dec. 11, 2024, and preliminary plat approvals the commission had provided earlier.

Community and Economic Development Director Jonathan Weidenhamer summarized the project history and the regulatory steps that led to the hearing, saying, “We will call this the Finch,” and reminding commissioners the council had completed the zone change and ordinance amendment in December. Weidenhamer told the commission staff and applicants had spent months refining operational details, including standards on weapons, crime prevention, waste management and quiet hours.

Lori Hopkins, executive director of Shelter the Homeless, described the project as a local response to a rising number of families needing interim housing after the pandemic and said the organizations sought a motel property to provide private rooms and wraparound services. “We have every intention of being good neighbors and good community partners going forward,” Hopkins said.

Michelle Flynn, executive director of The Road Home, said her organization would operate services at the site if the CUP is approved. “It will be an honor and a privilege for us to perform this service here in South Salt Lake,” Flynn said, and added the operators intend to work with the city and neighbors on any concerns that arise.

Commissioners and staff discussed several operational details reflected in the CUP conditions and staff packet. Those include controls on outdoor storage (the approved site plan does not permit outdoor storage), fencing and circulation plans, delivery and fire‑lane access, meal service logistics, and coordination with police for neighborhood safety and outreach. Staff emphasized they had worked with the applicants, state partners and local police on security and intake procedures.

Commissioners asked about pets. The applicants said the program will allow personal pets to come with families because pet restrictions often prevent participation in shelter programs. Commission staff noted animals would be required to comply with local animal regulations. As one staff member summarized, pets at the site “would have to comply with our Title 6,” the city’s animal services code, which requires vaccination and licensing where applicable.

Commissioners also discussed how the CUP addresses off‑site impacts, a topic that featured in prior work sessions. Staff said the CUP contains a long list of operational conditions intended to mitigate impacts away from the site, and they described ongoing conversations about potential future costs to the city and operational funding. Staff reminded the commission the planning process had included an earlier detailed work session and a joint meeting with the City Council where commissioners and council members asked questions about program length, meal provision, and circulation.

After deliberation, Commissioner Peschman moved to approve the CUP C240008 based on the staff report findings and the enumerated conditions of approval; Commissioner Dahlberg seconded. The commission’s roll call vote was recorded as unanimous in favor.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve the meeting agenda as written: Motion passed unanimously (moved by Commissioner Holscher; second by Commissioner Peschman). Notes: individual roll call not fully recorded in the transcript. - Election of chairperson: Commissioner Carter was nominated and approved by roll call (unanimous). The commission conducted a roll call vote; multiple commissioners responded “Aye.” - Election of vice chair: Commissioner Peschman was nominated and approved by roll call (unanimous). - Approval of Planning Commission minutes (Nov. 21, 2024) as amended: Motion to amend and return the minutes passed unanimously (moved by Commissioner Carter; second by Commissioner Hoelscher). The commission asked staff to incorporate specified corrections. - Adoption of revised bylaws: Motion to adopt revised bylaws with discussed edits passed unanimously (moved by Commissioner Slifka; second by Commissioner Spencer). Staff described a page 7 wording change to request city of residence rather than full address, and commissioners discussed clarifying “present” to include electronic participation. - Final action: Conditional use permit C240008 to operate a family interim non‑congregate children housing facility at 315 West 33100 South — APPROVED unanimously (moved by Commissioner Peschman; second by Commissioner Dahlberg).

What the approval does — and does not — do

The commission’s approval authorizes the operator to apply the CUP conditions to the site and to proceed with permitted development activity under the new Finch land‑use regulations established by the December ordinance amendment and the earlier zone change. The commission’s action does not itself appropriate operating funds or establish provider contracts; staff and the applicants indicated funding and operational coordination — including ongoing mitigation and policing plans — are matters for separate administrative and interagency arrangements.

Next steps

Staff said final plat paperwork is being circulated internally and the applicants will continue coordination with city departments, police and service partners to implement the program. The applicants and staff noted ongoing conversations about mitigation funding and operational responsibilities as the facility moves toward opening.

The meeting ended with a unanimous motion to adjourn.

(Article compiled from Planning Commission public meeting comments and staff presentation recorded Jan. 16, 2025.)