The Salt Lake City Historic Landmarks Commission voted 4-1 to grant a one-year extension for a previously approved new-construction certificate covering properties at approximately 602 and 612 East 300 South (case PLNHLC2023-00125).

Staff told the commission the project was originally approved in 2023, received a one-year extension in 2024, and that the applicant submitted a letter requesting a further one-year extension and "anticipates moving forward this next year." Staff noted the city code currently allows only one-year extensions but does not place a statutory limit on the number of times an applicant can return for another one-year extension.

During discussion, commissioners asked whether the commission had authority under current code to deny extensions; staff and legal counsel said there are no written standards in local code to deny an otherwise timely extension and that Utah land use law generally favors the applicant when local standards are silent. Several commissioners said they were sympathetic to the applicant given the broader economic and financing challenges in the development market, but some expressed concern about the lack of an upper bound on extensions.

A motion to "approve the extension of the new construction application as recommended by staff" was moved and seconded, and the commission recorded a 4-1 vote in favor. The minutes show four commissioners voting "aye" and the chair casting the sole "no" vote.

Staff said the decision grants the applicant another 12 months to implement the previously approved certificate of appropriateness; commissioners noted the city is considering code amendments and the state legislature is also studying standards for extensions across land-use authorities.

The extension does not reopen substantive review of the original project; commissioners emphasized the vote addressed only whether to extend that prior approval under current rules.