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Cottonwood Heights council previews PDD‑2 condo height, staff says measurement taken from Wasatch Boulevard
Summary
Councilors previewed a PDD‑2 text amendment on April 15 that would allow a condominium building up to 150 feet; staff said the code measures height from Wasatch Boulevard, and at least one council member said she will not support the 150‑foot maximum citing seismic and visual concerns.
Mayor Mike Wickers opened the work session and placed the PDD‑2 text amendment on the agenda as an item to be heard in the business meeting later the same day. Jared, the city manager, said the amendment has been recommended by the planning commission and that council members could ask questions before tonight’s public hearing.
Planning staff and the city manager told council the planning commission motion recommended a 150‑foot maximum height for the condominium building. A citizen, Patrick Boyce, had urged council to verify how the code measures building height—pointing to Old Wasatch Road versus Wasatch Boulevard as potential reference points.
City manager Jared clarified that, per the municipal code language cited to the council (the PDD ordinance), the height is measured from Wasatch Boulevard (SR‑190) and not from the bend in Old Wasatch. "It's measured from Wasatch Boulevard," Jared said in response to the question about reference points.
Councilor Hyland expressed strong opposition to the proposed 150‑foot cap. Hyland said she would not vote to approve that maximum, citing both public‑safety concerns in a seismically active, sandy area and the visual impact on the foothills gateway. "I will not be voting in favor of this height because I cannot support this kind of density, especially residential density in a place that... the risk to life and limb to me is too great," Hyland stated.
Other council members discussed the scale and noted that renderings show the condominium behind a proposed hotel, which would partly screen the building from the west. Staff said when the PDD‑2 ordinance was adopted in 2021 the ordinance left final building height and footprint to later amendment and development‑plan review, which is why this detailed height discussion has returned to council.
Staff and council agreed to address public comments and technical clarifications at the business meeting hearing; no final action on the PDD‑2 amendment occurred during the work session.
