Council discusses marketing city parcel for flex industrial instead of storage amid neighborhood concerns

City staff sought council input on marketing a two-acre city-owned parcel (former animal shelter) at 363 S 7200 W, zoned manufacturing, and whether marketing should target storage units or flex/light industrial uses.

Steve Pastrick reviewed the site's history: it had been marketed since November with limited interest; a neighboring parcel had been rezoned to allow storage but that project did not proceed; and the city's parcel carries manufacturing zoning but contains an over-pressure zone on the west that prevents residential uses. "If we allow flex industrial, you could assume the neighbors to the north will want the same thing," a council member observed; Pastrick and councilors discussed mitigation such as requiring indoor operations and a block wall to reduce noise and outdoor storage.

Council members noted trade-offs: storage can generate evening traffic, whereas flex industrial typically operates daytime business hours; several council members said a solid block wall and indoor-only operations could make flex space acceptable. Pastrick emphasized that any sale or development agreement would return to council for approval and that marketing the property as flex industrial does not itself change zoning or bind the council to a sale.

Council did not take a final vote but indicated staff could continue marketing the site as flex industrial with conditions to limit outdoor storage and require appropriate buffering; any development agreement or sale would require future council approval.