Murray City is moving forward with plans to turn an old office property into a new high-density housing development. On Feb. 18, the Murray City Council approved a zoning change for land located at 825-865 E. 4800 South. The vote allows the property to be rezoned from General Office (G-O) to R-M-25, a zone that permits high-density residential use.

This change will allow developer Lotus Company to build 64 for-sale townhomes on the 2.93-acre site. The property, which sits on a curve of 4800 South near Van Winkle Expressway, has long been home to aging office buildings that the developer says are no longer viable.

“The applicant wants to change the G-O zone to high-density residential,” Chad Wilkinson, community and economic development director for Murray City said. He explained that the R-M-25 zone allows multi-family housing like townhomes and apartments, which are not permitted under the current office zoning.

The project is a revised version of earlier redevelopment plans by Lotus. Adam Hughes, representing the company, said, “The R-M-25 zone request was made in response to market changes. This time they would exclude a parcel from previous project plans and response to public outreach, convert rentals to for-sale townhomes and implement the height variance approved in 2023.”

Hughes also noted that, based on a traffic study, the new project “would not cause major traffic issues in the area.” He said community feedback played a big role in shaping the plan. “As a result of community outreach he believed they had finally addressed all community concerns of the past regarding non-rentals, traffic analysis and tree surveys.”

Still, some residents voiced concerns during the public hearing.

Clark Bullen, a Murray resident, supported the plan overall, saying he liked the idea of an owner-occupied development with HOA rules. But he also said, “A lower-density mixed-use project might be more suitable because the office space model was not working.” He added, “Traffic congestion would only worsen with the addition of 150 units at Block One, 421 units at the old Kmart site, and 294 existing units at Miller Estates.”

Maren Christensen, whose family owns a small parcel next to the project site, said she hadn’t been contacted about the updated plans. She said her late mother opposed a similar rezone in 2022 because of traffic worries. “The curvature of the road makes it difficult to see beyond a certain point,” she said, adding that she had “witnessed several traffic accidents in the area.” Christensen also worried about the density and whether there would be enough tree buffers between her property and the new townhomes.

Councilmember Adam Hock asked if there would be a development agreement to ensure the homes would be owner-occupied. Wilkinson explained, “It was uncommon to create one just to require an ownership type because a regular zone change allows a developer flexibility to construct whatever the zone allows.”

City Attorney G.L. Critchfield noted that previously, Lotus had proposed a development agreement, but “at that time the administration and planning staff agreed that using Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions was a more effective approach.”

Councilmember Jake Goodman raised a question about whether a nearby parcel not included in the current plan might be used for rentals. Hughes responded, “The deed restriction applied to both parcels owned by Lotus and so both of them would have to be owner-occupied.” He also confirmed that access to the development would use the existing entrance on 4800 South.

Goodman said, “There was community excitement and support for a home ownership proposal.” Hughes added, “If homeownership was the primary consideration, maybe a legal mechanism could tie the rezone approval to a recorded deed restriction to ensure an owner occupancy restriction.”

However, Critchfield pointed out, “There was no such condition for a rezone and relying solely on Mr. Hughes’ word was the only assurance for an owner occupancy project.”

The council voted 4-1 to approve the change, with Councilmember Pam Cotter casting the only “no” vote.

City planners said the project fits with Murray’s long-term goals to increase housing options, promote reinvestment in older areas, and support neighborhoods with different housing types. According to the staff report, “The proposed Zone Map Amendment from G-O to R-M-25 conforms to important goals and objectives of the 2017 Murray City General Plan.”

Construction will still need to go through further approval stages, including reviews for traffic access, utilities and fire safety. But with the zoning change approved, the project is one step closer to breaking ground. λ