Council buys fire station site for $1 million after condemnation notice, approves Greenwood Creek over neighbors' objections
September 28, 2021, 7:00 p.m. · American Fork City Hall, 31 N. Church St.
The American Fork City Council approved buying 1.82 acres at 975 E. Harvey Blvd. for a fire station for $1 million in bond proceeds, a deal reached after the city notified the owner it would pursue condemnation. It also bought 0.45 acres next to the public works shops for $440,000 and signed a letter of intent to buy 30.77 acres from Windy City Development at $300,000 an acre. Despite neighbors' safety complaints about offset street intersections, the council approved the 41-lot Greenwood Creek subdivision near 900 North 640 West, saying it meets city code.
From the approved minutes.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Millpond Apartments improvements accepted, 79 N. 1020 West | Approved · 4-0 |
| Rivulet Apartments improvements accepted, 449 S. 860 East | Approved · 4-0 |
| Ratification of payments Sept. 8-21, 2021, and purchases over $50,000 | Approved · 4-0 |
| Class B beer license, Little India, 987 W. 500 North Suite 101 | Approved · 4-0 |
| Greenwood Creek A and B final plats, 900 North 640 West | Approved with conditions · 4-0 |
| Utility easement vacation, 736 E. Fleming Drive (Woodstock Estates Plat D Lot 8) | Approved · 4-0 |
| Purchase of 1.82 acres for fire station, 975 E. Harvey Blvd. | Approved · 4-0 |
| Letter of intent to buy land from Windy City Development | Approved · 4-0 |
| Purchase of 0.45 acres next to public works shops, 187 N. 300 East | Approved · 4-0 |
| Rockwell Ranch clubhouse parcel combination | Approved · 4-0 |
| Closed session on litigation | No action |
Agenda, item by item
Item 2 · Presentation
VFW honors Police Sgt. Stuart Fore and Fire Capt. Adam Casper
No action
The Veterans of Foreign Wars honored two first responders.
Item Consent 3 · Development
Millpond Apartments improvements accepted, 79 N. 1020 West
Approved · 4-0
Released the improvements construction guarantee and accepted public improvements for Millpond Apartments LLC (manager Tom Henriod).
- Payment$365,952
- Amount released: $365,951.50
- Total ICG: $402,546.65
Item Consent 4 · Development
Rivulet Apartments improvements accepted, 449 S. 860 East
Approved · 4-0
Released the improvements construction guarantee and accepted public improvements; developer representative Jarom Johnson.
- Payment$154,582
- Amount released: $154,581.52
Item Consent 5 · Budget
Ratification of payments Sept. 8-21, 2021, and purchases over $50,000
Approved · 4-0
Routine consent ratification; itemized list not in minutes.
Item Action 1 · Other
Class B beer license, Little India, 987 W. 500 North Suite 101
Approved · 4-0
Approved a Class B beer license.
Item Action 2a · Subdivision
Greenwood Creek A and B final plats, 900 North 640 West
Approved with conditions · 4-0
Final plats for 41 lots on 19.59 acres (about 1/3-acre lots, 2.1 units an acre) in the R-1-9,000 zone, with a PF-zoned open space and trail corridor along Mitchell Hollow linking 700 North to 1120 North and Highland's trails. Developer David Brotherson (also developer of Lakeview Farms) was represented by engineer Roger Dudley. Neighbors John Bushman and Scott Fambrough said new streets would not line up with existing ones, pointing a street at their homes and driveways and creating blind spots, and cited city code on intersection angles and driveway spacing. Staff (Rebecca Andrus) and Planning Commissioner Christine Anderson said the plan met code. Council members said they could not deny a plan that meets code. The Planning Commission had recommended approval 4-3.
- Lots: 41
- Acres: 19.59
- Zone: R-1-9,000 and PF
- Developer: Greenwood Creek LLC / David Brotherson
- Planning Commission vote 4-3 (Peay, Frandsen, Brocious no)
Item Action 3 · Other
Utility easement vacation, 736 E. Fleming Drive (Woodstock Estates Plat D Lot 8)
Approved · 4-0
After a public hearing with no comment, vacated part of a public utility easement.
- Ordinance 2021-09-47
Item Action 4 · Public safety
Purchase of 1.82 acres for fire station, 975 E. Harvey Blvd.
Approved · 4-0
Bought parcel 14:003:0387 from Stratton for a fire station and other public facilities. Earlier negotiations failed; on Sept. 23 the city gave notice it would proceed with condemnation, after which terms were reached. City Administrator David Bunker said it is paid 100% from bond proceeds. Settlement by Nov. 1, 2021.
- Land deal$1.00 million to Stratton
- Seller: Stratton
- Price: $1,000,000
- Acres: 1.82
- City issued notice of intent to condemn Sept. 23, 2021
Item Action 5 · Parks
Letter of intent to buy land from Windy City Development
Approved · 4-0
Authorized a nonbinding letter of intent to buy land (30.77 acres near 100 East 1100 South) at $300,000 an acre in cash, with the seller keeping water rights, the city paying rollback taxes estimated at $118,777 and a $50,000 deposit. Bunker said funding is mostly impact fees with some bond proceeds for a public safety portion; Councilmember Shelton asked for a breakdown.
- Fee$118,777 to Windy City Development LLC
- Price: $300,000/acre
- Rollback taxes: about $118,777 paid by city
- Deposit: $50,000
Item Action 6 · Contract
Purchase of 0.45 acres next to public works shops, 187 N. 300 East
Approved · 4-0
Approved buying 0.45 acres adjacent to the Public Works shops, settlement by Nov. 1, 2021. Councilmember Shelton asked for a breakdown of the budget impact of the city's many real estate purchases.
- Land deal$440,000
- Price: $440,000
- Acres: 0.45
Item Action 7 · Subdivision
Rockwell Ranch clubhouse parcel combination
Approved · 4-0
Authorized the mayor to sign approval of a quitclaim deed combining two common-area parcels (0.633 acres) in Rockwell Ranch Block 1 Phase 2 so the HOA clubhouse fits; deed prepared by White Horse Developers.
Item Action 8 · Other
Closed session on litigation
No action
Council met in closed session.
What residents said
Street alignment and safety at Greenwood CreekDriveway conflicts with new intersections
Emma Clark of Provo-based Charity Vision asked to partner with American Fork schools to provide glasses to children. On Greenwood Creek, neighbors John Bushman and Scott Fambrough objected that offset street intersections would point traffic at their homes and driveways and endanger their children, and asked the developer's alternate designs be considered; Bushman said the council was residents' only voice.