The Murray City Planning Commission on June 5 unanimously approved both preliminary and final subdivision plans for the 49th Street Galleria subdivision, advancing a key step for a large mixed-use development in the city’s central district.

The 26-acre property at 4998 South Galleria Drive is part of a master plan approved by the commission in August 2024. The development, spearheaded by Cottonwood Residential, will ultimately include 639 residential units and 18,900 square feet of commercial space.

The overall master plan as stated in the staff report includes 639 total housing units, but for the subdivision being discussed, the lots above break down to about 512 units, so the remaining 127 units may be accounted for in other parts of the master site plan or future phases. 

The latest application focuses solely on subdividing the single parcel into six individual lots. Senior Planner Zach Smallwood, presenting for staff, described the request as a technical step to “separate the townhome portion of the project from the rest of the property.” He added, “This is not a re-review of the project itself. This is just a subdivision review, looking at how they propose to carve up the lots.”

Under the approved plan, Lot 1 will host a commercial building of about 10,000 square feet. Lots 2, 3, and 5 will contain various townhome configurations, while Lot 4 will include 350 garden-style (three-story) apartments. Lot 6 will hold a 70-unit podium-style building. According to Smallwood, the project remains consistent with the Murray Central Mixed Use (MCMU) zoning requirements. “The proposed subdivision complies with the standards of the Murray Subdivision Code,” he said.

Cottonwood Residential’s Tyler Morris told commissioners that subdividing the lots gives the project flexibility. “What we want to do is we would love for the commercial building to be owned by an owner-user who can own it and use it rather than us building it spec,” Morris said. He explained that the townhome lots may become for-sale units instead of rentals: “Pulling them apart like this doesn’t guarantee they’ll be for sale, but it makes it possible.”

A total of 137 notices were sent to surrounding property owners within 400 feet. The city received only one call seeking clarification before the hearing. One property owner, Michael Todd, who owns an adjacent parcel, voiced concern about the impact on his efforts to sell his Desert Star Theatrics property by Galleria Drive, which he described as prone to unauthorized camping.

“I don’t have any problem at all with what they’re proposing to develop,” Todd told the commission during public comment. “But we’ve had a heck of a time keeping this site anything but a homeless camp. We’ve spent a lot of money trying to clean it up to sell it, and now the thistle has taken over again.”

Todd warned that if his parcel remains unsold, the site could revert to its prior condition. “Nobody’s going to win with that,” he said. Smallwood acknowledged Todd’s concern but noted, “All I can really do is encourage more discussion between the applicant and any interested party and working with Michael Todd if that’s the route they want to go.”

Several commissioners sought clarity on whether the subdivision would affect the broader site plan. Smallwood explained, “The master site review is the binding entitlement. It will be the same no matter what, unless they come forward with an amendment.”

Commissioners also confirmed that any significant changes to design, unit counts or layout would need to return for review. “The merits of each of these projects as they come forthcoming in terms of development would still be reviewed, right?” asked one commissioner. Smallwood replied, “Yes, they’re still subject to that review.”

The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote. The commission’s approval is subject to seven conditions, including meeting engineering, fire, power, water and wastewater requirements. The applicant must also record the subdivision plat within one year. The project will now proceed to final plat preparation and coordination with the Murray City Engineering Division before recordation at the Salt Lake County Recorder’s Office.