The Salt Lake City Council voted unanimously Tuesday, October 20, 2026, to approve a rezoning proposal for the former Smith's Ballpark site, incorporating a mandate for at least five acres of green space following community feedback. The decision sets the stage for a large-scale redevelopment of the 14.8-acre area, which is expected to include hundreds of housing units and new municipal facilities.
Redevelopment and Zoning Changes
The approved ordinance rezones much of the former Ballpark property from its previous Public Lands and Moderate Density Residential designations to Mixed-Use 8 and Mixed-Use 5 districts. The rezoning affects the stadium itself, parcels to the south, and a large parking lot located to the north. This legislative action allows for increased density and height that was previously unavailable under the old zoning rules.
Future Site Amenities
The redevelopment plans for the site include the construction of hundreds of housing units, a new library, and a new fire station. Additionally, the city intends to preserve and utilize the southwest stands of the old stadium as an entertainment venue, with plans from 2025 estimating a seating capacity of 3,700 for the area. This vision follows the framework established by the city's Community Reinvestment Agency (CRA) when it unanimously approved the Ballpark NEXT plan in late 2025.
Addressing Community Concerns
The council's decision to include specific green space requirements was a response to concerns expressed by Ballpark residents regarding the potential loss of open areas. Council Member Erika Carlsen, who represents the Ballpark neighborhood, motioned to approve the rezone. During the proceedings, Carlsen noted that the council took the opportunity to increase the amount of open space and explicitly named green space as a priority, establishing a minimum of five acres.
Height and Density Adjustments
The rezoning proposal actually lowered some building heights compared to earlier concepts. Specifically, many parcels rezoned as MU-8 were previously slated for MU-11, which allowed heights of up to 125 feet; the new MU-8 zone allows heights up to 75 feet by right and 90 feet through a design review. The MU-5 zone, applied to the southernmost parcels, carries a maximum building height of 55 feet.
Project Background
The push for redevelopment has been ongoing for several years, following the 2023 announcement by the Larry H. Miller Company that they would move the Salt Lake Bees to Daybreak. While previous plans included a potential MU-15 zone that would have allowed buildings to reach 150 feet along 1300 South, those plans did not move forward.
Next Steps for Ballpark
With the rezoning now finalized, developers who own sizable amounts of undeveloped land around the old stadium can begin making development decisions for the area's future. This decision marks a major step in a process that has seen various planning shifts since the city announced its framework for the stadium grounds last year.
Other Council Business
The council's session on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, also addressed other municipal matters, such as holding public hearings for HUD community development grants and postponing action on the Board of Equalization for the Sugar House Special Assessment Area after local business owners retracted a previous request.
