The Salt Lake City Council unanimously voted to adopt Growing SLC: A Five-Year Housing Plan 2018-2022. According to city records, this initiative represents the first housing plan for the city since 2000.
The plan was designed to address the root causes of housing affordability and increase the housing supply. It specifically targets solutions for households earning 40% or below the Area Median Income.
Comprehensive strategies outlined in the plan include updating zoning regulations, removing development impediments, and utilizing innovative construction methods. The plan also aims to increase homeownership opportunities, eliminate housing discrimination, and implement life-cycle housing principles.
In response to the 2022 general legislative session, HB 462 – Affordable Housing Amendments was passed. This legislation requires all housing plans to include an implementation plan by October 1, 2022.
City officials noted that while the housing market has experienced a boom since the end of the Great Recession, low vacancy rates have driven up prices. The plan includes an objective to provide residents, business leaders, and elected officials with high-quality data through a public-facing housing metrics dashboard.
The Growing SLC plan aims to balance the needs of growing neighborhoods with sustainable, equitable, and durable development strategies to support a high quality of life for residents.
