Agenda Item Title:
Title
Amendments to Title 21 of the Land Development Code related to Residential Parking Standards
Body
Presenter:
Melissa Anderson, Zoning Administrator
Body
Description/Background:
On behalf of Sandy City, the Community Development Department is proposing to amend Title 21, Land Development Code, Chapter 20, Residential Development Standards, Chapter 24, Parking, Access and Circulation Requirements. The proposed amendments will bring the code up to date with the Utah Code by revising the parking standards for single- and two-family residential dwellings, removing garage requirements for owner-occupied affordable housing, and by adjusting the requirements for the minimum dwelling size to no more than 1,000 square feet.
During the 2025 Utah Legislative Session, Senate Bill 181 was passed, which enacted language relating to residential parking standards for attached or detached single-family dwellings. Under UCA 10-9a-534, Regulation of building design elements prohibited - Regulation of parking spaces prohibited - Exceptions, the state law specifies the required dimensions for covered and uncovered parking spaces, that tandem parking shall be counted toward two parking spaces, and that a garage is not required for a single-family attached or detached dwelling that qualifies as owner-occupied affordable housing. Under that same code section, current state law restricts cities from requiring certain building design elements on one- and two-family dwellings, which includes prohibiting cities from requiring the dwelling to be more than 1,000 square feet in size (not including a garage). To address these state law provisions, the proposed amendments will bring the City’s land use code into compliance with the current Utah Code.
Please see the attached staff report and exhibits for the full details of this item. The specific amendments to the Land Development Code are included as Exhibit “A” (red-lined version) and Exhibit “B” (clean version).
Further action to be taken:
The final decision on this item will be made by the City Council.
Recommended Action and/or Suggested Motion:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission forward a positive recommendation to the City Council to amend Title 21, of the Sandy Municipal Code, relating to residential parking standards and minimum dwelling size, as shown in Exhibit “A”, based on the following findings:
Findings:
1. The City Council may amend land use ordinances consistent with the purposes of the Sandy Land Development Code, the Sandy City General Plan, and the Utah Code, Municipal Land Use, Development, and Management Act per Title 21 Chapter 5 of the Sandy Municipal Code.
2. The proposal is reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council in accordance with the requirements of Title 21 Chapter 5 of the Sandy Municipal Code.
3. The proposal complies with the purpose of the Land Development Code under Section 21-1-03 by promoting the public health, safety, and welfare; ensuring consistent and equitable standards; establishing fair procedures that are efficient and effective in terms of time and expense; and by facilitating the orderly growth and development of Sandy City.
4. The proposal complies with the Goals and Policies of the General Plan by establishing appropriate development standards for all uses and zoning categories within Sandy City.
5. The proposal refines and organizes the Land Development Code to simplify code language and formatting to improve readability and ease of use, consistent with UCA 10-9a-306, which requires cities to use “plain language” in land use regulations.