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RESOLUTION 32 OF 2015
Reaffirming the Salt Lake City Council’s Commitment to Comprehensive Public Involvement and Transparency in Establishing Local Historic Districts.
Whereas, the Salt Lake City Council supports the valuable role of public participation in our democratic process, as evidenced by the City’s launch of a 2009 formal transparency initiative and adoption of the City’s Open Government Policy; and
Whereas, practices that promote increased public engagement in the operations of the City help foster public trust; and
Whereas, a consistent, predictable public process that involves all property owners is essential when a proposed Local Historic District is submitted to the City Council for consideration; and
Whereas, a key element of this public process is providing accurate and equal access to information to the public and to property owners within an area proposed to be designated as a local historic district when a request for such designation first begins; and
WHEREAS, a transparent and open process is needed to ensure all interested parties are able to voice their opinions in a timely manner based upon all available and relevant information; and
Whereas, the City Council strongly supports a fair public process that is transparent and accessible to everyone.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah:
1. The Council intends to incorporate by ordinance the following steps as part of the public process for establishing a Local Historic Districts (LHD):
A. the LHD designation process must be clearly described on the City’s Historic Preservation webpage;
B. the contact information for City Staff assigned to an LHD must be included on the webpage;
C. after a pre-submission meeting is held with an applicant wishing to establish an LHD, the City must send a letter to all property owners within the proposed LHD which includes an LHD fact sheet, staff contact name and information, and an outline of the public process;
D. the letter described above must be sent before signatures may be gathered on a petition to establish an LHD as provided in Section 21A.34.020 of the Salt Lake City Code; and
E. the Planning Director’s Report, referenced in Subsection 21A.34.020.C.4, Salt Lake City Code, must certify that the letter was sent to all property owners within a proposed LHD.
2. The Council directs Council staff to initiate a petition to amend the City’s zoning ordinance to include the foregoing requirements.
3. A Planning Director’s report which does not include the foregoing requirements is not in the public interest and may result in denial of an associated application for establishing an LHD.
Passed by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, this 6th day of October, 2015.