A House committee unanimously advanced a bill Friday that would extend a one-year moratorium on the creation of new historic districts in Salt Lake City.

The sponsor, Sen. Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, said he is optimistic Yalecrest — the east-bench neighborhood bitterly divided over historic-district status and the impetus for the bill — can negotiate a solution by the time the moratorium would end in May 2013.

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"Hopefully, they’ll come to a conclusion on how to deal with this," he said, noting he would not offer a third moratorium next year.

Committee members voiced some concerns about "meddling" in local affairs, but ultimately agreed the move buys Yalecrest necessary negotiating time.

SB115, which has passed the Senate, now moves to the full House.

New Salt Lake City Councilman Charlie Luke thanked Niederhauser, noting a renewed sense of urgency in Yalecrest. The absence of a palatable historic-district process, Luke added, could have implications statewide.

Justin Allen, of Utah’s Association of Realtors, also endorsed the pause. The historic-district question, he said, is larger than Salt Lake City and needs some sort of resolution.

Derek P. Jensen