Sandy City Council Meeting and Housing Workshop - July 1, 2025

The Sandy City Council held a work session and regular meeting on July 1, 2025, from 5:15 PM to 9:06 PM. The work session featured the first of a four-part housing workshop series, "Building our Future: A Community Housing Workshop Series, Workshop 1 – Where are we now?" The regular council meeting included the election of a new Chair and Vice Chair, informational items on zoning and code amendments, and approval of the consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mark Mason Taylor, representing the American Rose Society, offered to gift Sandy City 400–600 climbing rose bushes (a backup collection of historic ramblers) to complete landscaping at the Sandy Cemetery. He will cover transport and shipping costs and requested a firm commitment from the city by the end of July 2025. The council indicated staff would follow up.
• Salt Lake County Council Member Dea Theodore spoke about fireworks safety and fire prevention, urging residents to be aware of restrictions. She praised first responders for their quick response to a recent house fire near her home.

Discussion Items

• Housing Workshop (Work Session): The workshop established a baseline understanding of Sandy's housing landscape. Key speakers included:
  • Shane Pace, CAO, reviewed Sandy's growth history, noting that 85% of homes were built between 1970 and 2000, property tax rates were once the highest in Salt Lake County, and the city's population has declined (losing 8,000 in the 2010 census, then another 10,000 in the 2020 census). He highlighted high land costs, a shortage of affordable housing, and families leaving for more affordable areas.
  • Shawn Teigen, President of the Utah Foundation, presented data showing that 34% of residents expressed a need for more affordable housing; the Wasatch Front is expected to require 200,000 housing units each decade. He noted that 80% of Utahns feel home prices are too high, and 90% worry about housing costs. He discussed middle housing (missing middle) as a potential solution.
  • Steve Waldrip, Senior Advisor to the Governor for Housing Strategy and Innovation, described the housing crisis, including that home prices are outpacing incomes, and the median home price-to-income ratio in Utah is now 5.6 (up from 3 in 1984). He stressed the importance of homeownership for generational wealth and the need for supply.
  • City staff Jake Warner and Kasey Dunlavy presented Sandy's General Plan 2050 and RDA affordable housing efforts, including seven state strategies for moderate-income housing.
• Election of Council Chair and Vice Chair: The council elected Brooke D'Sousa as Chair and Ryan Mecham as Vice Chair for a six-month term, by unanimous voice vote.
• Altus Rezone (Informational): Jake Warner presented a request to rezone 2.7 acres at 951 East 8800 South from R-1-20A to R-1-8 for a single-family subdivision. The Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation. The applicant, Phil Winston, stated they met with neighbors and received positive response. The item will return for action on July 15.
• Code Amendments – Appeals and Variances (Informational): Melissa Anderson proposed amendments to Title 21 to align with state law (HB 368), removing de novo review and clarifying final decision dates. No action taken.
• Code Amendments – Residential Parking Standards (Informational): Melissa Anderson presented amendments to align with state law (SB 181), including tandem parking allowances, minimum garage dimensions (10x20 for single car), and an exemption from garage requirements for owner-occupied affordable housing with a deed restriction. The item will return for action on July 15.
• Animals Running At-Large (Informational): Ian Williams proposed amendments to Title 12-1-11 to change "should" to "is unlawful" to create strict liability. Council members discussed the need for clear language and prosecutor approval. The item will return for action at a later meeting.
• Brew Pubs Calls for Service Update (Informational): Justin Sorenson presented an analysis of police calls over 12 months at nine establishments (six in Sandy, three outside). Only three alcohol-related calls were reported across all establishments. The police chief stated it was of zero concern. The data supports a potential code amendment to expand brew pub locations, which is expected to be brought forward on July 15.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved:
  • Appointment of Martin Jensen as Sandy City Alternate Member to the Trans Jordan Landfill Board (Resolution 25-32C).
  • Kershaw Annexation Resolution (25-33C) for 24 properties (8.85 acres) along 1350, 1400/1380 East south of 9400 South, setting a public hearing date.
  • Jameson Point Annexation Resolution (25-34C) for two parcels (6.5 acres) at 9767-9782 S. Jameson Point Cove, etc., setting a public hearing date.

Key Outcomes

• Election: Brooke D'Sousa elected Chair, Ryan Mecham elected Vice Chair for six-month term.
• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
• Housing Workshop: The series will continue with Workshop 2 on July 22 (educational), and Workshops 3 and 4 (participatory) tentatively in September and October.
• Future Meetings: No council meeting on July 8; next meeting July 15.
• Directives: Staff will follow up on the rose bush donation; the animal at-large ordinance will be refined with prosecutor input; the brew pub code amendment will be brought forward on July 15.