Planning Commission votes ‘no’ on amendments for SLC entertainment district

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The Salt Lake Planning Commission has voted no to proposed changes that would allow for skyscrapers and more changes near the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Smith Entertainment Group planned to revitalize downtown as Utah welcomed a new NHL hockey team. They’re looking to add a new “sports, entertainment, culture and convention district.”

Wednesday night, there was a bit of a halt when the Salt Lake Planning Commission voted unanimously 6-to-0 to not recommend the amendments presented to them.

MORE on the ENTERTAINMENT PROPOSAL:

A staff note said:

“Mayor Erin Mendenhall has initiated a zoning text amendment to modify provisions in the D4 Downtown Secondary Business District that would support the creation of a sports, entertainment, culture, and entertainment district in and around the site of the Delta Center. The changes would impact all the properties within the D4 zoning district and include removing the limitations on building height, expanding and modifying the arena sign overlay to the blocks where the Salt Palace is located, and changing the following land uses from conditional to permitted: stadiums, heliports, and commercial parking structures. The D4 zoning district is in City Council District 4, represented by Eva Lopez Chavez.”

A big thing they mentioned was a desire to “slow down.” They felt they were being asked to make the decision rather suddenly.

Commissioner Bree Scheer said she feels these revitalization projects aren’t the solution for downtown.

“We were wounded deeply by Crossroads Mall, which in turn was killed by The Gateway, which suffered near mortal damage from City Creek Mall,” she said. “Anyone who believes a jumbotron-fueled, oversized and glitzy sports center will be anything but a relic needing overhaul in less than 20 years, needs to turn off their VCR and join the real world.”

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