Sandy City Council Work Session and Citizen Comment - December 16, 2025

This meeting served as the fifth and final workshop in the City of Sandy's housing series, aimed at establishing high-level policy direction for adding "missing middle" housing types. The session focused on determining desired locational, design, and affordability conditions for new housing in lower-density neighborhoods and outlined the timeline for potential code amendments. Following the work session, the council heard public comments, provided standing reports, and participated in a special recognition ceremony for outgoing council members Zach Robinson and Ryan Vika.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously adopted the consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Scott Earl expressed gratitude to the Mayor, Council, and staff for the construction of the new recreation center, fire station, and public works facility, specifically noting the projects were completed without a tax increase.
• Henry Butters expressed frustration regarding a previous interaction with the Mayor, stating he should not be ordered to refrain from criticizing council members, asserting his right to express his feelings in the public forum.

Discussion Items

• Housing Workshop Series (Policy Direction):
  • Context: Staff clarified this was a policy discussion to guide the administration for future code amendments, not a final vote on ordinances. The goal was to address "Who, What, Where, and How" of housing, with a specific focus on "How" to implement missing middle housing in lower-density neighborhoods (which comprise 76% of the city).
  • Housing Types Discussed: The council considered four specific types for lower-density areas: Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Small-Lot Single Family homes, Twin Homes, and Mansion-style Multifamily units.
  • Conditions and Incentives: Staff presented charts for the council to place stickers indicating whether housing types should be "Permitted," "Permitted with Conditions," or "Incentivized."
    • Detached ADUs: Received significant support (7/8 council members) for implementation in low and very low-density neighborhoods. Council expressed interest in incentivizing ADUs, particularly for aging in place.
    • Small-Lot Single Family: Some members (e.g., Councilor Houseman) argued for incentivizing these to create entry-level homeownership opportunities, despite low current construction rates due to developer cost preferences.
    • Twin Homes & Mansion Style: Discussed as potential housing types that match existing neighborhood scale and could support owner-occupancy or multi-generational living.
  • State Preemption: It was noted that the Utah Legislature is likely to preempt local ADU regulations, potentially requiring all cities to allow detached ADUs on large lots. The council used this session to determine which conditions (e.g., setbacks, design, location) and incentives they wish the state to consider or to retain authority over.
  • Process: The council agreed that staff must first receive this 30,000-foot policy direction before drafting specific code recommendations. Staff will then return with specific proposals based on this direction.
  • Timeline: A debate occurred regarding whether to fast-track housing code amendments separately from the general Title 21 code rewrite. Councilmembers Robinson and Vika advocated for immediate action on high-consensus items (like ADUs) to begin implementation sooner rather than waiting for the entire rewrite (potentially 18 months). Other members expressed caution, noting proximity to the state legislative session. Consensus leaned toward moving forward with specific, prioritized amendments (like ADUs) while the broader rewrite continues.

Key Outcomes

• Policy Direction Established: The council provided broad policy direction favoring the introduction of missing middle housing (ADUs, small-lot single family, twin homes, mansion styles) into low and very low-density neighborhoods, with a strong preference for adding conditions rather than permitting them without restrictions.
• Prioritization for Fast-Tracking: The council signaled a preference to prioritize and fast-track code amendments for high-consensus items, specifically Detached ADUs and Station Area Plans, rather than waiting for the complete code rewrite.
• Staff Directive: Staff (Jameson's team) was directed to begin drafting specific code amendments and recommendations based on the sticker exercise results and tonight's discussion.
• Retirement Recognition: Mayor Zoltanski and Council colleagues presented ceremonial street signs and plaques to outgoing Councilmembers Zach Robinson (serving 8 years) and Ryan Vika (serving 4 years) in recognition of their exceptional service, noting major accomplishments including new fire stations, the recreation center, and the Sandy Pace of Progress General Plan.
• Future Meetings: The next regular council meeting was scheduled for January 6, 2026.