Holladay Village decision delayed

HOLLADAY — The City Council has decided to delay a decision on an appeal against the planned Holladay Village development in the heart of town.

Instead, members of the council will meet with the project developer, Cowboy Partners, and the appellants, both of whom are former members of the city planning commission.

The appeal was raised after the planning commission unanimously approved a final site plan for the project, which has been under way for at least six years. The appeal questioned the height of the project, as well as the number of apartments planned.

As proposed, Holladay Village would add one story of retail and two stories of apartments to the corner of 2300 East, Holladay Boulevard and Murray-Holladay Road. The intersection already has been rebuilt with local and federal funds to make way for the redevelopment.

Two weeks ago, planning commission Chairman Richard Kimball publicly apologized for his decision but was rebuffed by City Council members who told him he had done a good job.

"I am very pleased to be here tonight to endorse the course of action proposed by Mayor (Dennis) Webb," said appellant Helen Redd. "The citizens of Holladay are the ones who know what's truly best for the city."

The plan to wait on the appeal ruling came after the former planning commissioners mailed a private "newsletter" to every residence in Holladay. In the two weeks between the appeal hearing and Thursday night's meeting, the mayor and developer met with the appellants several times.

Also Thursday, the council voted to rezone the Aix La Chapelle apartments to residential-multi-family. Condominium owners there had experienced trouble selling their units under the existing "commercial" zone designation because of changes to financing standards.

The apartments are just a stone's throw from the proposed Holladay Village development.

e-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com