Developer Seeks Zoning Change To Allow Taller Towers in Salt Lake City

On the heels of Astra Tower becoming the tallest building in Salt Lake City, Utah, at 450 ft, Illinois-based Harbor Bay Ventures is seeking a zoning change that would allow buildings up to 305-ft tall in the Sugar House Business District, Deseret News reports. The application submitted to city planners in late November aims to increase the maximum height of buildings at 1095 East 2100 South from 105 ft, representing an increase of 200 ft. Salt Lake City Planning Director Nick Norris said the proposal is “definitely a first” in the city, and expects it to be controversial. From the developer’s standpoint, the city’s housing crisis demands a “bold response” such as this. Before Harbor Bay Ventures gets the green light for a tower development to replace an “underutilized office building,” it has to meet a slew of requirements, including having a LEED rating of at least Gold, a setback to prevent snow and ice from falling on sidewalks and more. If city planners decide the proposal has met all requirements, there will be a 45-day public comment period.