SALT LAKE CITY
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
In Room 326 of the City & County Building
451 South State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah
Present from the Planning Commission were Tim Chambless, Chairperson, Babs De Lay, John Diamond, Peggy McDonough, Prescott Muir, Laurie Noda, Vice Chairperson, Kathy Scott, and Jennifer Seelig. Craig Galli was excused.
Present from the Planning Division Staff were Doug Wheelwright, Deputy Planning Director, Cheri Coffey, Deputy Planning Director, and Shirley Jensen, Secretary. Brent Wilde, Deputy Community Development Director was also present.
A roll is being kept of all who attended the Planning Commission Meeting. Chairperson Chambless called the meeting to order at 5:15 P.M. Minutes are presented in agenda order and not necessarily as cases were heard by the Planning Commission. Tapes of the meeting will be retained in the Planning Office for a period of one year, after which they will be erased.
Chairperson Chambless announced that there were no minutes to approve, no report of the chair and vice chair, or report of the director for this meeting.
PUBLIC NOTICE AGENDA
(This item was heard at 5:19 P.M.)
Utah Soccer, LLC, doing business as Real Salt Lake, Major Soccer League (MSL) team and Salt Lake City Public Services Department - Utah Soccer, LLC is requesting that Salt Lake City enter into a two or possibly up to a seven year lease agreement to allow existing unimproved City owned real property, located at approximately 2005 West 500 South Street, to be developed into a team practice field facility. The City-owned property contains approximately six acres and is located just west of the City Parks Division office, and is currently zoned Public Lands (PL). The term of the lease will be for two to three years, or until the team is able to construct a permanent stadium/training facility. Compensation to the City is proposed to be the value of the construction of the open play field(s) and parking lot improvements to be paid by Utah Soccer, LLC. The use rights to the improvements would revert to the City Public Services Department, upon termination of the lease agreement.
Mr. Wheelwright stated that the language on the proposal has been updated from when the agenda was sent out two weeks ago. He noted that the Mayor supports this proposal. Mr. Wheelwright said that the Public Services Department is trying to accommodate the practice field needs of the team within Salt Lake City. He added that the final details on the exact location and the site plan layout has not been determined. Mr. Wheelwright stated that the Planning Commission would not vote on the proposal at this time, but any comments would be communicated to the Public Services Department.
Mr. Dell Cook, Landscape Architect from the Salt Lake City Engineer’s Division, Mr. Trey Fitz-Gerald, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for Real Salt Lake, and Mr. Lynn Pace, Deputy City Attorney, were present to answer any questions the Planning Commission may have.
When it was recognized that no member of the public was in attendance, Commissioner De Lay inquired if the Planning Commission could forgo the presentation. Both Mr. Wheelwright and Chairperson Chambless said that the Planning Commission could forgo the presentation; however, Mr. Pace said that, procedurally, the Chair would have to ask for public comment.
Chairperson Chambless inquired if there was any member of the public who wanted to comment on the soccer field proposal.
Mr. Cook said that he would answer any questions or make a brief presentation on the proposed site location map. He noted that as soon as a final site plan is determined, it will be reviewed by the City Permits Office. Mr. Cook stated that a Geotechnical Engineer has tested soil samples and was compiling a report. He pointed out that Real Salt Lake would bear all the cost of water and sewer connections. Mr. Cook said that the team wanted to move quickly on the location because that wanted to use it this year for their practice field.
Chairperson Chambless inquired if the Commissioners had questions for staff or the representative of Real Salt Lake.
Commissioner Scott questioned the closeness of the Utah Power lines to the proposed soccer field. Mr. Cook pointed to the projected site location on the enhanced site location map, and noted that the power lines were in a 60-foot right-of-way and would no way interfere with the proposed location of the soccer field.
Commissioner Diamond asked if the information from this meeting was just in concept or theory because the soccer field might be located somewhere else. Mr. Cook said that out of the two possible sites in Salt Lake City, the proposed location seemed to be the most workable site for the team. Mr. Wheelwright stated that it was his understanding that a site in the City of Centerville in Davis County, located on private land has also been considered for the soccer field.
Chairperson Chambless inquired if there was anyone from the public who wished to speak to this matter. Seeing none and there being no further business, Chairperson Chambless adjourned the meeting at 5:30 P.M.