The South Salt Lake City Council has unanimously adopted the Downtown Connect Plan, a resolution required by state law to guide development around the city's public transit stations. This action, which followed a positive recommendation from the planning commission on Aug. 7, fulfills a state law (HB462) requirement for all cities with public transit.

"HB462 requires all cities that have a fixed guideway public transit station to plan a half-mile radius around that station," Community Development Deputy Director Eliza Ungricht told the city council. "This plan encompasses two of our stations, the Central Pointe station and then the South Salt Lake Streetcar station. So, it's a two-for-one and that's why it's called the Downtown Connect Plan because it's our downtown area."

The plan's primary goal is to guide development within a half-mile radius of the Central Pointe TRAX and South Salt Lake Streetcar station. It proposes crucial improvements, such as an at-grade crossing at Central Pointe Place to better connect the downtown area. 

"One of the biggest wins I would say for this station area plan is that it talks about an at-grade crossing at Central Pointe Place," Ungricht said. "Right now there's no way to connect Central Pointe Place. Everyone who gets there has to get there from 2100 South...and this is proposing that it connects, which would save a lot of time for people, and it would really connect our downtown."

As an essential building block that positions cities to thrive, Downtown South Salt Lake aspires to become “a model community of lively neighborhoods that celebrate creativity and entrepreneurial energy,” the plan’s vision statement says. “Districts will promote dynamic, human-centric, and safe places with vibrant streetscapes, lined with a blend of housing options and economic drivers including businesses and dining establishments. Alternative transportation systems including transit and ped/bike corridors will form an interconnected network linking neighborhoods together while keeping the community connected to the greater Salt Lake region.”

Adopting the plan is a critical step to get it certified by the Wasatch Front Regional Council which is necessary to secure regional funding from organizations like UTA, Ungricht said.

"Without this plan being approved tonight through this resolution, we can't get it on broader regional plans to get funding for something like this to get done because WFRC and UTA won't see it as an approved official plan," she said.

The plan also outlines the need to update other city plans, such as the general and mobility plans, which staff are already working on. 

"The good news is a lot of these plans that they talk about updating or creating, staff is currently working on or already talking about," Ungricht said. "So, we're one step ahead, and so, that's super exciting." The council voted unanimously to approve the plan.