Planning commission recommends denying rezone of former church at 7250 S Halilani Drive after neighbors cite traffic and safety concerns

The Midvale Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended that the City Council deny a developer’s request to rezone 7250 South Halilani Drive — a former church site — from single-family residential (with duplex overlay) to a medium-density multifamily zone.

The commission’s formal recommendation to the council followed more than two hours of public comment and a divided vote. After an initial motion to recommend approval failed, commissioners approved a motion to recommend denial on a 3–2 roll call (Chair Edwards: Yes; Vice Chair Liedtke: No; Commissioner Tibbets: Yes; Commissioner Anderson: Yes; Commissioner Erickson: No).

Residents who live near the property repeatedly told the commission the neighborhood lacks sidewalks and that traffic already presents hazards for children. “There’s not even a sidewalk anywhere within my neighborhood. When my children walk to school, they have to walk in the roads,” said Savannah Rodriguez, a nearby resident, urging commissioners to limit density.

Brad Reynolds, representing the applicant, said the proposal would use durable exterior materials and two-story units with two-car garages and argued the project could help meet local housing demand. “We’re going to extra time and expense to make sure that this is a product that will look good over a long period of time,” Reynolds told the commission and said he was willing to provide traffic-study data to address safety concerns.

Planning staff told commissioners the application was a conceptual rezone request and had not yet been through site-plan, engineering or traffic review. Staff recommended the proposal could meet rezone criterion 3 — that the surrounding land use has changed or is changing — but emphasized that detailed design and infrastructure review would come later if a zoning change were adopted.

Legal counsel reminded the audience that the commission’s role is advisory: the body issues a recommendation and the City Council makes the final legislative decision. Commissioners urged residents to bring concerns to their city councilmembers, noting the council will hear the item on July 21.

The commission’s recommended denial will be transmitted to the City Council for a final decision. Pending actions include any additional studies or conditions the council may require if the developer pursues a later application.