The Salt Lake City Planning Commission late Wednesday rejected a request for a zoning change that would have paved the way for Rowland Hall to buy 13 vacant acres from Mount Olivet Cemetery in order to build an upper school and soccer fields.

"We will [appeal] this to the City Council," vowed Rowland Hall trustee Bob Steiner. "The Planning Commission's decision is only a recommendation."

Commissioners counter that they voted 7-1 to keep the zoning intact to reinforce the importance of open space.

"We want to send a strong message about our commitment to open space," said Commissioner Kathy Scott after listening to nearly two hours of public debate on the matter.

Amid fears of increased traffic from the school's expansion plans and dwindling space at the city's own cemetery, Salt Lake City officials didn't want to waiver on open space in light of a current turf war with North Salt Lake over a piece of property that separates Salt Lake and Davis counties.

"You don't want to appear weak on this issue," said Peter Von Sivers, one of several community council representatives who spoke against the proposed zoning change.

"It's a conundrum," said Commissioner Prescott Muir, referring to the capital city's previous stand to bar any development on 80 acres North Salt Lake owns inside Salt Lake City's borders.

North Salt Lake has sued to disconnect that property.

While Muir said he opposes North Salt Lake's development plans - which include a cemetery - he proposed shelving the Mount Olivet ruling "until we have more information." And, perhaps, resolution of the North Salt Lake case.

That also would give Mount Olivet officials time to confer with the federal government, which has to OK the land sale because the cemetery sits on property that was once part of historic Fort Douglas. The deed stipulates that the property be used as a cemetery.

"I can't vote for this, I don't think we should be voting on this, until that has been dealt with on a federal level," Commissioner Babs Delay said.

Mount Olivet, which is operated by a consortium of churches, wants to tap money from the land sale to help keep the rest of the garden-like cemetery open and in good repair.

lorib@sltrib.com