South Salt Lake unveils 18‑month code update plan to guide housing and downtown growth

City staff and consultant Design Workshop presented an 18‑month plan on May 13 to update South Salt Lake’s Land Use and Zoning Code, aiming to align local rules with the General Plan and state statutes and to direct new density toward transit‑oriented areas and downtown.

Jessica Garrow, Principal-in-Charge for Design Workshop, told the council the update is intended to "preserve neighborhood character and improve residents' quality of life" and to create a "clear, modern, and implementable regulatory framework." The memo attached to the presentation says the project is now in Phase 2, Code Analysis and Issue Identification, and that the overall effort will take approximately 18 months to complete.

The consultants outlined a Community Engagement Plan consisting of three formal Engagement Windows with tools including website pulse surveys, focus groups, stakeholder interviews and pop‑ups. The team plans to launch Engagement Window #1 on June 4–5 with pop‑ups timed to Juneteenth events to gather public feedback.

Consultants emphasized guiding principles such as making the code easier to administer, aligning zoning with state statutes, and expanding opportunities for affordable and "missing middle" housing. The presentation listed priority topics that will inform the workplan, including administration and enforcement, downtown form‑based code, adaptive reuse, parking, transit‑oriented development and sustainability incentives.

Next steps outlined by staff and the consultant team include finalizing a Code Audit Memo, producing a Code Outline and Style Guide, and scheduling staff work sessions on priority topics before returning recommended amendments to the council and planning commission for further discussion.