The South Salt Lake City Council held a work meeting on August 26, 2026, to address several municipal updates, including progress on the city's affordable housing plan and proposed regulations for body art establishments.
During the meeting, Senior Project and Housing Manager Steve Lyon provided an update on the city's affordable housing goals, which focus on preserving long-term affordable homeownership and increasing the inventory of permanently affordable housing. Lyon noted that the federal government recently passed the Road to Housing Act, redirecting more financial resources toward cities, and mentioned a new federal program allocating 83 million dollars for housing repair.
Lyon detailed a Community Land Trust model where the city owns the land and the homeowner owns the structure. Under this model, homeowners would pay a $75 monthly ground lease for 99 years, which could save homeowners approximately 40% by removing land costs from mortgages. The city has purchased four properties for this program, including locations at 3005 South 200 East, 280 East Southgate, 71 West Crystal Avenue, and 2752 South 500 East, with the goal of building or remodeling them to house families by the spring of 2027.
Habitat for Humanity CEO Carin Crowe addressed the council, stating that the organization has never foreclosed on a home in its forty-year history and that its average homeowner stays in their residence for 22 years. Crowe noted that families invest a maximum of 30% of their income into 0% interest mortgages and announced that the state has allocated 1.5 million dollars to assist with homes in the city.
The council also discussed the River Trail Station Area Plan. Senior Planner Spencer Cawley explained that because the subject area is predominantly commercial, industrial, and tax-exempt land, staff recommended the council adopt a Resolution of impracticability for the plan.
Additionally, the council reviewed proposed ordinance amendments to regulate tattoos and piercing establishments. The proposal would permit body art businesses by right in commercial corridors, downtown, mixed-use zones, and Transit-Oriented Development zones. Staff recommended requiring an administrative conditional use permit for businesses abutting residential zones to regulate operating hours, buffering, and patron entrances.
The meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m. The updated Affordable Housing Plan is expected to return to the council for final action at a later meeting.
