It is well known that there is a state-wide need for affordable housing options, and South Jordan is no exception. State lawmakers are often passing laws to limit how much municipal governments can do to determine what types of housing goes where. Our planners, however, work within those limitations to create the best situation for South Jordan and its residents.
One example of how the City has done this is the creation of the land use category called “Stable Neighborhood.” This land use is assigned to existing residential neighborhoods that are generally built. If someone comes to the City looking to rezone property within the Stable Neighborhood land use, the City looks at the surrounding zones and asks “Does this match what is around it?” They look at the character, lot sizes, and many other factors that make a neighborhood unique. This helps guide builders before they come to Planning Commission with development proposals.
The City also plans for the majority of residential growth to be along major roadway and transportation corridors, which means this growth is very visible to those commuting through South Jordan. This is a key tool used by city planners because it adds growth where there is already infrastructure to handle it.
South Jordan has also used innovative partnerships to increase the number of affordable housing options in the city. One example is the City’s workforce housing project in 2021, when the City partnered with a developer to provide deed-restricted workforce housing for teachers, first responders, and City employees. This unique solution was achieved through infrastructure cost sharing and creative zoning requirements and solutions.
Another example is the Housing Transit Reinvestment Zone (HTRZ) for the new urban center in the Daybreak development that will be anchored by the Salt Lake Bees Ballpark. The HTRZ committee, which approved the plan, included representatives from the State Legislature, the Utah Department of Transportation, the Governor’s Office for Economic Opportunity, the State Treasurer’s Office, Salt Lake County, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, and Jordan School District. With the help of HTRZ funding, the City of South Jordan and the developer are better able to address the housing shortage in Utah.
This zone will create affordable housing, encourage the use of public transit, and generate needed economic development and employment opportunities in the southwest portion of the valley. The City believes this is the best opportunity to create affordable housing in the fastest-growing quadrant of Salt Lake County.
South Jordan is continually looking to the future and building additional partnerships to help with our city’s housing needs. As the State grows, the City has a plan for the growth that impacts South Jordan. Whether that’s collaborating on infrastructure, public transit, and housing projects, or by using zoning to preserve existing residential neighborhoods.