This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Dimple Dell Road will hold onto its pastoral character a little longer with the Salt Lake County Council's decision Tuesday to reject a rezoning request for higher density housing at 10300 South.
The council unanimously denied a request to double the housing density allowed on two parcels totaling 4.75 acres, land owned by physician Brent Layton and former Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman.
"There's a uniqueness in that area," said County Councilman Jim Bradley, contending the council has a long-term obligation to use its ordinances and zoning powers to "capture and protect those things we appreciate and feel are unique. … We'll be much better off leaving the status quo."
Councilman Steve DeBry said he respected the rights of property owners who want to do something with their land. But he added that the county also must protect the rights of surrounding landowners who bought there because of the area's bucolic character, which has been preserved with zoning limiting housing to one unit per acre.
"For the people who live on Dimple Dell [Road]," DeBry said, "their lifestyles and property values would be diminished. It's unfair to change the rules midstream and put 18-19 houses on that property."
He was referring to a planned unit development that was shown as a possible project on the combined parcels when the application was heard by the County Planning Commission in mid-January.
The planning commission unanimously denied the request after hearing objections from 15 speakers, including representatives of the Granite Community Council.
The stances taken by the planning commission and community council influenced the votes of two other County Council members — Aimee Winder Newton and Chairman Michael Jensen.
"When we created the townships and community councils, it was to get input and to let those closest give us recommendations for what [they] need in [their] areas," said Jensen, a councilman since 2001.
"It speaks volumes," he added, "when the planning commission and community council are unanimous in their recommendations."
Developer Kyle Christensen argued that "increased urbanization dictates that this [requested zoning change] is an appropriate use in this area."
He also chastised opponents, 20 of whom spoke out Tuesday, for not backing up their words with money.
"None of the adjoining neighbors is willing to buy the property to preserve that lifestyle," Christensen said.
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The Sundance Institute and Utah Film Center have teamed up to help Salt Lake County upgrade digital cinema projection capabilities at Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. The nonprofits donated $86,300 toward the purchase of a new cinema projector and associated lamp systems.