Greater Avenues Community Council

Council Meeting Minutes, July 11, 2007

Board Members Attending: Michael Hughes, Wayne Green, Steve Mecham, Dylan McDonnell, Walter Jones, Kat Kivett, Judith Locke, Denton Taylor, Jill Van Langeveld.

Welcome and Announcements – Michael Hughes

• Downtown Rising has a publication containing its vision for Salt Lake City of the next 50 years. Copies will be at the library, and details are available on its website at www.downtownrising.org.

• Salt Lake City’s Buy Local First Directory has been published with many local businesses listed, including all the businesses that appear on the business listing page of the Avenues website.

• Next month’s meeting will be devoted to the Mayoral candidates and their positions on issues, please submit questions in advance to Michael Hughes to be sent to the candidates in advance. Sydney Fonnesbeck will moderate the forum.

• Trina Smith, GACC Secretary prior to tonight’s meeting, is here tonight. As she has moved out of the area and is attending graduate school, we thank her for her service and present her with a certificate and gift.

• Dylan McDonnell has graciously offered to be the new GACC Secretary and was introduced as such.

• Don Doug: Avenues Mobile watch is looking for volunteers. If you want to become a volunteer on July 17th there is a 3-hour session with the police, then 1 hour with dispatch and 4 hours with mobile watch is required.

• Avenue Street Fair – Ruth Morgan: Will be calling people for volunteers. If you want to help organize the street fair come to the next meeting on July 14 at 271 C Street at 9:00am and Aug 4 at 9:00 am at Cucina’s. The Street Fair will be held September 8th on 2nd Avenue between I and N Streets.

• Crosswalk flags are available for checkout from the Sweet Library in sets of 10. Please inform the library staff of where you intend to place the flags.

Reports

• Library: The summer reading program is going very well. There will be a Harry Potter party at the Downtown location for the release of the newest and last book. This means there will be no more parties like this. It is a family event, so bring everyone along. “How To” Tuesdays is a 1 hour program on various subjects. If you want to learn about something but don’t have much time, these mini sessions are great. The next two subjects will cover a pet clinic and a staying healthy program.

• Friday July 13 there will be another “Movie in the Park” at Lindsey Gardens (on 7th and M street). They will be showing Ghostbusters. Great family event, popcorn is provided. Bring your friends and family.

• City Council: Eric Jergensen – Planning issues are currently being discussed, especially in regards to the development on 9th and G St. The City Council is moving forward with this issue. Additionally it is discussing the Airport light rail track and would like public input, especially in regards to placement of track as it leaves downtown hub and connects with the North Temple line. The Department of Transportation is willing to come and discuss transit issues with anyone who would like to know more. Q by Sydney Fonnesbeck – What is being done at the intersection of A Street and 2nd Avenue? A. There will not be a striped left hand turn at that street. If you have any issues you would like to discuss with Eric his office number is 535-7625, ask for Marge Harvey. The UTA bus route will be changing to it’s new route on August 26th

SLC Public Safety Plaza and Fire Training Center - 7:18pm

Fire Captain Erikson and Police Lt. Melody Gray presented plans for a bond issue and location search for new structures. The bond measure would be for $192 million for a much needed upgrade to facilities. The main reason for new structures is to help respond to large scale disasters. Some of the upgrades include stabilizing for earthquakes, 911 dispatch, new public safety building, parking and evidence, and health and safety. Nearly every event calls for both fire and police to react to the situation together; therefore it only makes sense to co-locate the two groups. Combining the both units will save the taxpayer a great deal of money, as they would be working in unison and able to respond together. It will end up saving roughly 1 -2 million dollars than if it were done separately. Tonight is just a brief overview. See Attached pamphlet for more information (Appendix A) Q. What will you do with the old building? A. No plans yet, though it may be a possible museum for public safety. Q. If there is no bond, would the buildings still need to be brought up to code for seismic activity? A. Yes, that would still be required. Q. What would the cost be for the seismic upgrade? A. “A lot”, currently the cost is $6 million just for basic repairs to the structures. Q. What kind of growth will this allow, and have you accounted for it? A. Yes, it has been accounted, and the expansion is written in the City’s 20 year plan. Q. Are there things slipped into the bond that we don’t know about? A. No, we are required to tell you everything that is in the bond, and are only allowed to spend money on the things we have mentioned to you. Q. There is roughly a 2% increase in cost when building a new structure, is this accounted for? A. Yes, it is cheaper per square foot than the current structure; additionally there are contingencies for the rising costs of material and labor when building the structures. Q. Will any new personnel be hired with this bond measure? A. No

Mayor’s Office – Gwen Springmeyer:

People’s Market is starting off Sunday mornings. Be sure to come, the more people that come the more vendors will set up, the more vendors set up, the more people will come. Beginning Friday night there will be concerts in Pioneer Park from 6 – 8:30, it is designed as a family event, so bring your family down for some fun.

GACC Considers Appeal of Planning Commission

• Steve and Brenda Lowe, owners of 330 A St and 324 A St. presenting.

• Submitted a formal statement to the GACC and read parts of it. (See Appendix B). As owners of the property, the Lowe’s are opposed to the appeal, they feel the have complied with all city ordinances and have followed a direct path to be in compliance with those codes. In 2004 -2005 they worked with Utah Historic Society in order to attempt a complete historic restoration, and in 2006 they purchased the adjacent property. After the purchase they felt that 324 A St. was not up to fire code and the costs of remodeling was three times the cost of rebuilding. They therefore applied for a permit to demolish the structure, which was granted. It was after the demolition was granted that the GACC included an article by Shane Carlson that opposed the demolition, even though the Lowe’s had fully complied with all city ordinances. Salt Lake Planning Commission unanimously approved the plans – see the minutes of the SLPC for details of what occurred there. Therefore, the Lowe’s ask for the motion to be defeated. Q. Is there a motion on the floor? A. No, this is only a discussion. Q. What would Mr. Carlson have you do with the property? The home could have been saved, but under current conditions there is no plan. Neighbors agree that the owners are beautifying the lot. *statement* request to see the other side Motion by Wynn Johnson that the GACC not make an appeal. Motion seconded by ______________. Motion Tabled until the GACC’s presentation can be made on this matter as scheduled in the agenda. Jim Jenkin comments: Approval is not the issue; the issue is the Planning department. We must hold the City to the zoning use rules. The question in this specific case is the definition of accessory use vs. accessory structure, which is vague in the ordinance.

• The policies of the Department of Community Development is the reason the GACC finds itself opposing a community member’s project. Mr. Lowe followed a path that was clearly marked out, but the city should have weighed the interests of all the community and not just of the applicant.

• The ordinance being used is not transparent, but there are clear understandings of how accessory use should be handled.

• This is the first time in recent history the GASS has handled an issue like this

• The project damages the community in two ways.

  • Possibility of building a larger house through the ambiguous ordinance of accessory use.

  • The Possibility of a multi-building compound on two lots.

• This particular application of this ordinance damages the community.

  • What happened in the previous meeting? The Demolition permit was already issued.

  • Patsy Johnson has a similar property – four parcels each with a different structure and use. Her structures should not be compromised.

  • Mr Lowe is willing to receive a restrictive ordinance whereby the no other property will be allowed to be built on the lot.

  • This issue is being presented because the GACC board voted to bring this issue to the floor, as it affects the community.

  • The issue is that Planning has not followed the rules, and thereby caused this issue to come to the GACC.

  • Eric Jergensen suggests to initiate a temporary restriction by a City Council legislative action. Meaning a moratorium on the City considering any application regarding accessory uses on accessory lots. This would take about 2 weeks to clarify. The action will be discussed and taken tomorrow at city council. Eric Jergensen reminds everyone that no one ever complained about the project, the complaint was about the interpretation of the ordinance, and his solution would rectify both sides of the problem.

  • Given that Steve Lowe reminds everyone to read the minutes of the Planning Commission meeting at which his project was unanimously approved, and given that the ordinance will be reviewed by the City Council, therefore the GACC will at this time consider the motion previously made and seconded. A vote was held with the majority in favor of stopping the discussion of an appeal at this time.

Construction at 9th and G

• This project was on the agenda of the next Board of Adjustment meeting for a special exception variance as it was built over the permitted height. The motion was removed from the BofA agenda so it can be discussed further by Planning staff and the Avenues Housing Committee. The issue comes down to the fact that the structure was approved after Planning saw only a conceptual idea and not official surveys of surrounding properties. By some estimates the building is 10 inches, 3.5 feet, or 5 feet over the height allowed, due to changes in grade during construction and unclear ordinances on which grade should be used to measure final height. This project brings up several concerns: How should final building size be enforced? Why would it have been built over the prescribed limit? What tools should be given to Planning staff to measure the finished size of a structure? Whose responsibility is it? Should those involved be required to abate or tear down the part that is over height? Should they be fined? What is the enforcement policy? Unfortunately the ordinance is not clear on this. Why the size discrepancy on finished height? Different surveyors were used, they were surveyed at different areas of the building, and there was no official planning survey before construction or after. The GACC feels that enforcement is needed whenever building a new structure. Unfortunately if just a fine is given some people will just write that into their structure cost and ignore the law. The matter will continue to be discussed by Planning, Eric Jergensen, and the GACC. Future reports will be presented.

LDS Hospital Update - Postponed due to time constraints. Will reschedule for Sept. 5.

Adjourn – 8:50pm