HolladayDigest

Item 1 – Thorpe House (Continued)

Review of historic property status, exterior/interior modifications made by the applicant, and proposed use as office space

• Discussion of whether prior modifications jeopardize the property's historic designation
• Debate over procedural order: whether to vote on historic site modifications or conditional use first
• Discussion of a specific tree (misty blue spruce) as a historic element of the property
• Review of applicant's additional submitted materials, including construction details, Italianate/Victorian style references, and finished detail photos
• Receipt of a written public comment (summarized at hearing)

Item 2 – Partial Street Vacation, 2755 E Hailston

Request by Mr. and Mrs. Shar to vacate a portion of unused public right-of-way adjacent to their property on the west side

• Discussion of current site conditions (existing wall and landscaping already on the subject area)
• Historical context of why the right-of-way was platted at an unusually wide width (~66–70 ft)
• Staff recommendation that full width will never be needed; 50-ft width proposed to be retained
• Discussion of setback implications, sidewalk requirements, and potential future similar requests from neighboring properties

Item 3 – Royal Holladay Hills Block H, I, J

Introduced but transcript ends before substantive discussion

Correct typos in staff report: second motion language should read "Conditional Use for proposed use," not "modification"

Provide written public comment (with commenter's address) to be summarized during the public hearing portion

Proceed with two separate motions for Thorpe House: (1) historic site modifications, (2) conditional use for proposed use

Continue presentation on Royal Holladay Hills Block H, I, J

Thorpe House – Written Public Comment

A written comment was received prior to the meeting. The commenter's address was provided after submission. Staff indicated they would summarize the comment during the hearing rather than read it in full.

Procedural Discussion

Commissioners debated at length whether to address the conditional use or the historic site modifications first. Consensus leaned toward handling them together since both motions are tied to the same public hearing. It was clarified that if the property is removed from the historic register (a City Council decision), any conditional use approvals granted by the Planning Commission would be nullified.

Tree as Historic Element

The misty blue spruce tree (present in 1972 documentation, no longer on site) was noted as specifically called out in the historic property designation file. A Commissioner expressed surprise that a tree would be considered a historic element; discussion deferred to the formal hearing.

Partial Vacation – Site Context

The current house at 2755 E Hailston has been demolished. The subject right-of-way area already has a wall and landscaping in place, making it visually indistinguishable from private property. Staff noted the right-of-way (~66–70 ft wide) far exceeds what will ever be needed; the city proposes to retain a 50-ft width.