Salt Lake skybridge is still up in the air

The Salt Lake City Council wants more information, including input from the public, before it paves the way for a Main Street skybridge.

The council, in its first official discussion of the proposed City Creek Center skybridge Tuesday night, came to no real conclusions on the proposal other than to plan a public hearing for March 20.

The skybridge is part of a proposal by Taubman Centers Inc., which is working with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to renovate two downtown blocks into a 20-acre retail, residential and office complex known as City Creek Center.

It is among the most contentious elements of the project, as a number of voices — including Mayor Rocky Anderson's — have decried its potential to channel shoppers throughout City Creek Center but not to the rest of downtown. It would essentially trap its visitors while at the same time blocking views from Main Street, they worry.

"I understand and even agree with the importance from the standpoint of the developer to have a second level of activity and to strengthen that," Councilwoman Nancy Saxton said. "I think it sets up a very strong east-west corridor. What it doesn't do is anything for a north-south corridor."

Taubman officials have said the second-story, cross-street walkway is vital to making the project successful, the most efficient way of channeling shoppers past upper- and lower-level shops.

But two downtown planning documents — a 1990 master plan and a 1995 urban design document — are at odds with the skybridge. They call for the city to prevent walkways that would keep pedestrians off city streets and block views. Main Street, with its view of Ensign Peak, is specifically named in the documents.

The Planning Commission in November recommended changes to those planning documents that would allow exceptions when no other alternatives are feasible, and precautions have been taken to protect views and street-level commercial activity. The amendments would give the city final design approval on any skywalks.

The amendments — which the council ultimately will be called on to accept, reject or reword — would apply not just to the City Creek Center proposal but to any future proposals for downtown skybridges.

Either the council or the commission, depending on how the council ultimately votes, would then have to decide whether Taubman's proposed bridge meets those requirements. Taubman and church officials have not yet publicly presented details on their skybridge plans.

Councilman Soren Simonsen said he isn't sure the amendments, as written in the language approved by the commission, are specific enough.