SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's capital city is considering rezoning its downtown as negotiations continue with Smith Entertainment Group over a proposed “sports, entertainment, cultural and convention district” around Delta Center.
Salt Lake City's proposed changes to the D4 Secondary Central Business District zoning requirements would allow building heights to approach those of the downtown core and expand the Delta Center building to its current size. etc. becomes possible.
The proposal, initiated by the Salt Lake City Mayor's Office in late April, would:
- Removes the cap that limits building height to 125 feet. There will be no building limits within the zone, but anything over 75 feet must be approved through a design review process.
- Allowing additions to existing buildings “even if the addition does not comply with the maximum setbacks of the use zone.” It was specifically designed to allow Delta Center to expand within its block without having to deal with existing setback regulations as Smith Entertainment Group prepares for a multi-year renovation. It is something that
- Move stadiums, helipads, and commercial parking lots from conditional to permitted use. However, the latter has some limitations. Buildings may not be demolished and replaced with separate parking lots or structures. Commercial parking lots and buildings should also be part of larger developments.
- Modifying sign overlay regulations to allow for “flexibility in signage size and type to accommodate a variety of events” at Delta Center, Salt Palace Convention Center, Abravanel Hall, and Contemporary Art Museum of Utah. All four companies are currently only allowed to promote events held at their respective venues.
The proposed changes are similar to an application Smith Entertainment Group filed with Salt Lake City on April 4 that began the city's involvement in a basketball/hockey arena bill approved by the Utah Legislature this year. Officials will allow the city to use arenas, stadiums, heliports, commercial parking, and off-site parking within the project area, while eliminating maximum height restrictions within the project area. I asked.
If approved, it would apply to Delta Center and Salt Palace, blocks directly north and south of the arena, and Quarter Row directly southeast of the arena. Salt Lake City Planning Director Nick Norris said that even if certain uses were allowed immediately, regulations would still be in place. For example, normal operating hours for a helipad may be established in the event of a non-emergency situation.
The proposal is scheduled to be presented at the Salt Lake City Planning Commission meeting on May 22, but the proposal could be postponed to June 12 as Smith Entertainment Group considers concerns raised about the signage. There is sex.
Overall, what the company has proposed is not far removed from what is accepted or planned in the area. Norris explained that some D4 zones already allow buildings up to 375 feet in height. The company's vision for the area is similar to the downtown plan the city adopted in 2016, which he said essentially describes “an entertainment district around Delta Center.”
“Some of the code changes are big, but they are not widespread code changes,” he told KSL.com.
The Salt Lake City Council is expected to vote on the bill sometime after it passes the Planning Commission.
Smith Entertainment Group recommended the change about two weeks before Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith acquired the Arizona Coyotes in a deal that would move the National Hockey League franchise to Utah. He said NHL plans have shifted from building a new arena “south” of Salt Lake City to renovating the arena and creating the entertainment district created by SB272 around it.
The City Council last week heard presentations from the company, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. Salt Lake County is also involved in discussions, as the company's plans include the Salt Palace and other county-owned land east of the arena.
A public hearing on the negotiations is scheduled for May 21, after which the City Council is tentatively scheduled to vote on whether to approve the partnership in July. As outlined in the bill, the two sides have until September 1 to reach an agreement. The City Council has until the end of the year to approve a sales tax increase of up to 0.5% to fund projects in the area.
Smith Entertainment Group estimates that the tax could generate up to $1.2 billion over its 30-year life, of which up to $900 million could be collected.
That has raised concerns from residents who say cities and states shouldn't give public money to wealthy team owners, but Mendenhall said Monday that the proposal goes beyond sports. He said he believed there was. She argues the changes will strengthen the convention industry and promote downtown's success on the day the Delta Center becomes operational, two of her biggest economic drivers for the city.
“What's being proposed isn't really about the NHL, it's about taking it to the next level and making sure those two economic engines continue,” she said. “It’s really less about (hockey) and more about making sure downtown stays strong.”