Council approves rezoning and ordinance to allow Finch non-congregate children’s housing facility

The South Salt Lake City Council voted to approve an ordinance amendment and zone change that will allow a proposed non-congregate children’s housing facility, referred to in meeting materials as the Finch. Jonathan Weidenhamer, the city’s community and economic development director, summarized the process and said the planning commission had recommended the change following a prior public hearing and preliminary plat approval.

Weidenhamer said the council was being asked to approve two separate actions: a petition to change a parcel from Transit Oriented Development (TOD) zoning to a new Finch zone, and an ordinance amendment that (1) adds a Finch definition, (2) places Finch as a conditional use in the land-use matrix with district-specific lot and site requirements, and (3) sets specific standards that a conditional-use permit (CUP) must meet to mitigate off-site impacts.

Weidenhamer told the council that additional entitlement steps remain; the final conditional-use-permit review by the planning commission is scheduled for Jan. 16, 2025. He said the city and applicant have spent significant time refining operational details and standards since prior presentations.

During the meeting, representatives of the applicant and supportive service partners were present, including Laurie Hopkins and Lindsey Hector of the applicant group and Road Home representatives Michelle Flynn and Sarah Strang. The council approved the unfinished business item by motion (mover: Charlotte, second: Clarissa) and a roll-call vote recorded as affirmative across those present.

Nut graf: The rezone and ordinance create an enabling regulatory framework — a new Finch zoning district and CUP standards — intended to allow a non-congregate children’s housing facility at the subject site, while reserving final operational approvals for the upcoming planning commission CUP review.

The ordinance changes include updates to definitions (adding Finch), modifications to the land-use matrix to list Finch as a CUP in the new district, and specific CUP standards, including lot-size and site requirements and references to subdivision and infrastructure standards. The amendments noted limited allowances (for example, not requiring underground utilities in specified circumstances) and specified that the CUP standards would be the place where most operational and mitigation requirements are enforced.

Council action: A motion to approve the unfinished business item was moved and seconded; the council conducted a roll-call vote and the motion passed. Weidenhamer and staff said the planning commission will hold the final CUP review on Jan. 16, 2025, which will include public notice and an opportunity for additional comment.

Ending: The council’s approval creates the zoning category and review standards that allow the applicant to pursue the CUP; final approval of operations and site-specific mitigations will be decided at the planning commission’s conditional-use permit review.