Home-height limits debated

A group of residents spoke out Tuesday against Salt Lake City's push to restrict property owners' ability to build most new two-story homes in the city.

"Since when did two-story homes become some kind of immoral or wrong use of a home property?" David Rose asked.

But those against the push were countered by a group of about the same size that backs the rules, which seek to encourage property owners to build and remodel on a small scale.

Saying the move is anti-family, anti-American, too Draconian and prohibitive of smart-growth development, several dozen residents encouraged the City Council to back away from the plan that would limit home height citywide to 23 feet or the average height of the homes on the same block face.

City planners and many builders have said the 23-foot limit would prohibit people from building a second story on their homes.

Under the rules, those who want to build higher would be forced into an administrative hearing process that many said would be too cumbersome for people looking to expand their homes to accommodate growing families.

"This ordinance that is being proposed is one of the direct reasons that all of our friends are leaving the city," said Mark Cook, a father of five. "There is so much bureaucracy coming, in their minds it is just easier to move to Eaglewood or Draper."

Those who spoke against the move were countered by another contingency that wants the new rules.

The majority of those who spoke in favor of the proposed rules were from the Avenues, where a few "monster homes" have replaced smaller ones — much to the dismay of surrounding neighbors. Those huge homes block views and lower surrounding property values, advocates said. Those in favor want new rules passed now before more monster homes can be built.

"We cannot wait anymore," Kimberly Pilger said. "It is time for the community to take a stand that we are going to preserve the neighborhoods that make this city stand out."

But Clint Johnson said he has surveyed 1,701 homes in the Avenues. Of those, 863 are taller than 23 feet.

"Adopting a standard that over half of the existing homes don't meet is absurd to me," he said. "Applying a height standard that may be good for the smallest home in the Avenues to the entire city is ignorant and irresponsible."