NIMBYs claiming they aren't NIMBYs
Hi all,
Believe it or not after multiple uneventful rezones from r-1-5 t or r-1-7 to rmf-30 in Glendale, by developers, the city, and CDCU, a current proposal to rezone to produce affordable housing on 1.25 acres that has not been previously developed has almost as many public comments of opposition than other highly controversial projects in Emigration or the Avenues.
I know the owner, who is a planner and housing advocate. They are working specifically with a non-profit developer, after talking to other non-profit housing organizations about potentially partnering on the project or selling it to them after entitlements.
It happens that a particular former long time city council member has been utilizing their community connection to bring attention to and oppose this particular project. There's a petition and news stories and so many assumptions made about people who are NOT developers, just people who know zoning and care about affordable home ownership.
The irony is that the rezone makes a better project than if it was developed with existing affordable housing incentives in the current zone. The rezone does not create a significant increase in the number of units or forms allowed already in the existing zone.
They were even proposing to provide some for sale 1 bedroom units at 60% AMI, some of those as accessible so people in the neighborhood could downsize or buy a smaller home for aging parents or so young professionals or working class people could afford a home and get a start, so they could buy one of the MANY single family homes in the area eventually. You cannot buy a 1 bd home in the area even if you wanted to. They just don't exist.
One of the City's conditions was that ALL of them would be deed restricted in perpetuity (standard is 30 yrs), which seems like a huge win for the city and it's housing goals. The owners wanted to create a mix with even more affordable units. For comparison, Garbett rezoned up the street and only had to do 50% affordable units for 30 yrs.
It's sad to see so much outcry when this project is being put forth by normal people who care about housing, affordability, and ownership opportunities who are trying to create a quality pocket neighborhood like you'd see on the east side. They are trying to create opportunities for ownership in the sea of 90% single family homes in Glendale, many of which are not even lived in by the owner.
If you support good infill and affordable ownership, public comments in support to the planning commission and eventually to city council would be really helpful.
https://www.slc.gov/planning/2026/05/12/openhouse2026-00369/
And if you enjoy a good Facebook comment section with all the classic NIMBY arguments, the neighbors recently got Fox 13 to do a story about it, so it's on Fox 13's Facebook page.