This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Legislation aimed at Salt Lake City that would make the formation of local historic districts more difficult passed in the waning hours of the annual legislative session.
Rep. Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, sponsored HB223 that breezed through the House and stalled in the Senate. Until the last day of the session, when it passed.
The bill, now on its way to the governor, would mandate that 33 percent of property owners must agree to put a defined local historic district to a vote. It also holds that more than 50 percent of all property owners — rather than just participating voters — would have to vote yes to create a local historic district.
In 2012, the Salt Lake City Council crafted an ordinance that required at least 15 percent of property owners in a designated area to agree to put a proposed local historic district to a vote. A simple majority of 51 percent of participating voters would determine whether the area received the designation.
Wilson and other property rights advocates said Salt Lake City's ordinance was unfair to homeowners who might want to change or add to their houses.
— Christopher Smart
Editors note: This is a corrected version of a story that incorrectly said the bill had expired.