4 members of council plan to vote for skybridge

Four members of the Salt Lake City Council told the Deseret Morning News on Friday they plan to vote in favor of allowing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to build a skybridge as part of its $1.5 billion City Creek Center downtown development.

Council members Jill Remington Love, Carlton Christensen, Eric Jergensen and Van Turner each said they believe the LDS Church and its development partners have met the requirements set by the council a year ago and that they plan to acknowledge that with an affirmative vote.

A fifth favorable vote is likely from council newcomer JT Martin.

"It appears (the developers) have met the criteria," Martin said. "I think the evidence is stacking in favor of a positive vote from me."

In April 2007, the council approved amendments to the city's master plan to permit skybridges under certain circumstances. The criteria created by the council was designed to ensure that the development promotes a vibrant downtown with an emphasis on pedestrian traffic.

The council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether those conditions have been met.

"We passed specific criteria, and I think they've met that criteria," Jergensen said. "I think this is going to be a world-class development. I'm very enthusiastic about what it will do for our downtown."

In some cases, a favorable vote will require putting personal preferences aside.

Martin, who wasn't a member of the council when the master plan was amended, said he would have voted against the skybridge then, but now faces a much different decision.

"I don't like the bridge, I don't want the bridge and I wouldn't have voted for the bridge," he said. "But that's not what I'm voting on. I'm voting on whether (the developers) have met the criteria or not."

Soren Simonsen, the lone member of the council to vote against amending the master plan, remains opposed to the skybridge from an urban design perspective but described himself as "firmly in the undecided category" on Tuesday's vote.

"I think they're pretty close (to meeting the criteria), and they may even be there," Simonsen said.

First-year Councilman Luke Garrott also has said he believes the developers have made a strong case that they've satisfied the requirements, though personally he's opposed to multi-block, mega-development projects.

Love said she would prefer a unanimous vote of the council Tuesday because it's such a significant decision for Salt Lake City.

"I hope we can find some consensus and agreement as a council," she said. "But regardless of where the other six council members fall, it's not going to change my vote."

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