On Nov. 18, the Council adopted zoning changes and a street vacation connected to the construction of the new West High School. The text amendment seeks to make temporary zoning standards, originally adopted in February under a Temporary Land Use Regulation, permanent for K-12 public school development within the Public Lands District.
These permanent changes include increasing the maximum building height for public schools to 125 feet and decreasing setbacks when adjacent to any non-residential zoning district. Specifically, side-yard setbacks will decrease from 50 feet to 30 feet, and rear-yard setbacks will decrease from 100 feet to 50 feet.
The amendments also introduce allowed obstructions in required yards and exempt K-12 public schools from historic preservation overlay district provisions. These specific standards do not apply to universities, colleges, or charter schools.
The approved street vacation involves a 1.3-acre section of 200 N between 200 and 300 W. This area is currently part of the school athletic fields under a 1987 lease agreement. The transfer of this right-of-way to the school district allows for continued use of the property for public school purposes.
The street vacation does not include the existing constructed section of 200 N near 200 W, and access to surrounding properties will not be affected.
This development follows a November 2024 vote where residents approved a $730 million general obligation bond to rebuild West High School and Highland High School. Because previous Public Lands zoning standards created obstacles for these upgrades, the Council had previously utilized a 180-day Temporary Land Use Regulation to avoid construction delays.
The decision followed various recommendations and public feedback. On July 9, the Planning Commission provided a positive recommendation for the street vacation but a negative recommendation for the text amendment due to concerns regarding neighborhood effects and uncertainties around setbacks and height limits.
During a public hearing on Sept. 2, residents expressed concerns regarding vehicle traffic increases in historic neighborhoods along 200 West and 200 North, as well as the impact of the school design on city plans. Some residents also advocated for the preservation of the historic West High building.
Council Member Wharton supported the vote, noting that the process allowed for securing commitments from the School District to address neighborhood concerns.
These commitments include requesting UDOT approval for a one-way exit onto 300 West to reduce traffic on 200 West, limiting the northern parking lot to faculty and staff, and installing a gate to block parking access during major events like those at the Delta Center. Additionally, the District agreed to plant mature trees along the property line near residential homes as a buffer and to hire a demographics team for updated enrollment projections.
