Council blocks fireworks stand at high school, rejects Yablonovsky flag-lot request, tightens procurement policy
May 28, 2024, 7:00 p.m. · American Fork City Hall, 31 N. Church St.
The council refused a seasonal permit for Crazy Al's Fireworks in the American Fork High School parking lot after the fire marshal objected to fireworks sales in a residential zone, denied a general plan change that would have let the Yablonovsky property create a flag lot, and adopted setback rules pushing commercial buildings away from homes in PO-1 and CC-2 zones. It revised the procurement policy, prepaid American Fork Irrigation Co. assessments with Councilmember Ernie John recused as the company's president, and held hearings on the 91.7-acre Harbor Road Plat E and 22.9-acre Julie Clark annexations.
From the approved minutes.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item PH · Annexation
Public hearings: Harbor Road Plat E Annexation (91.7 acres, about 500 West 1100 South); Julie A. Clark Annexation (22.90 acres, about 400 West 1400 South); FY2025 executive municipal officers' compensation increase
Discussed
No comments on any hearing.
- Harbor Road Plat E: 91.7 acres
- Julie Clark: 22.90 acres
Item 2 · Presentation
HERO award to Samantha Corey
No action
Posthumous award to American Fork High student Samantha Corey, who died in January at 17 after cancer; Principal Peter Glahn spoke.
Item 3 · Presentation
Police department re-accreditation
No action
Utah Chiefs of Police Association re-accredited the department (173 standards; one of 21 accredited agencies).
Item Consent 3 · Development
Release of durability retainer, Northshore Corp Center Plat D, 871 S. Auto Mall Drive
Approved · 5-0
Released $4,639.74.
- Payment$4,640
Item Consent 4 · Development
Release of construction guarantee, Evergreen and 300 North (Sanderson project)
Approved · 5-0
Released $139,791 and accepted improvements.
- Payment$139,791
Item Consent 5 · Other
Class C beer license, Street Tacos Don Joaquin, 74 N. West State Road
Approved · 5-0
Approved.
Item Consent 6 · Contract
Real estate purchase from Sonya Laney, about 700 North 200 East
Approved · 5-0
Purchase agreement for property needed for 700 North / 200 East improvements; the amount is not in the minutes and the packet exceeds 50 MB.
- Land dealAmount not given to Sonya Laney
Item Consent 8 · Budget
Ratification of payments May 8-21, 2024, and purchases over $50,000
Approved · 5-0
Routine consent ratification.
Item 1 · Public safety
Crazy Al's Fireworks seasonal stand, 510 N. Caveman Blvd. (American Fork High School, R1-9000)
Denied
Pulled from consent by Councilmember Ernie John, who cited NFPA guidance against fireworks sales in residential areas. Fire Marshal Mat Sacco said there is room in commercial zones and the stand near homes would encourage illegal aerials. A Crazy Al's representative said the company has operated 12 years and leases other Alpine School District sites. The minutes record the motion to deny but omit the vote tally; members including Carroll said they would vote to deny.
- Vote tally missing from minutes
Item 2 · General plan
Yablonovsky general plan amendment (inner-block cottage overlay)
Denied · 5-0
Martin and Carmen Yablonovsky sought to add their property to the inner-block cottage area map, which O'Brien said would effectively create a flag lot, not an inner-block development; fire access would require a 96-foot cul-de-sac. The Planning Commission had recommended approval; the planner recommended denial. Legal counsel warned against straying from the code's intent.
Item 3a · Development
GA Larson Storage Yard site plan, about 51 W. 1100 South (4.03 acres)
Approved · 5-0
Ordinance 2024-05-22 in PI-1.
- Acres: 4.03
Item 4 · City code
PO-1 zone setbacks next to residential zones
Approved · 5-0
Ordinance 2024-05-23 requiring commercial buildings next to residential zones to be set back a distance equal to their height.
Item 5 · City code
CC-2 zone setbacks next to residential zones
Approved · 5-0
Ordinance 2024-05-24 with wording changes.
Item 6 · Public safety
Fireworks restrictions resolution
Tabled · 5-0
Motion to approve failed 0-5 after debate over cul-de-sacs and enforceability; then tabled. Adopted June 11.
Item 7 · Contract
Revised procurement policy
Approved · 5-0
Resolution 2024-05-17R; Finance Officer Anna Montoya said a competition clause based on federal standards bars bidders with an unfair advantage.
Item 8 · Appointment
Camden Bird appointed to school district interlocal board
Approved · 5-0
Resolution 2024-05-18R naming the assistant city administrator to the board under the interlocal agreement to create a school district.
Item 9 · Contract
Prepayment of American Fork Irrigation Co. assessment fees
Approved · 4-0-1
Resolution 2024-05-19R. Councilmember Ernie John recused, saying he is president of American Fork Irrigation. The amount is not in the minutes.
- PaymentAmount not given to American Fork Irrigation Co.
- Conflict: Councilmember Ernie John is president of American Fork Irrigation Co.
Item 10 · Other
Closed session on property acquisition and pending litigation
Approved · 5-0
9:17-9:45 p.m.
What residents said
Protecting Utah Lake shoreline and bird habitatDark-sky lightingPuppy millsFireworks sales near homes
Amy Motta of Bailing Out Benji spoke against puppy mills. Kristina Gregory, who lives near the FrontRunner station, asked the city to protect the lakeshore buffer for birds on the Pacific Flyway and recreation, and to adopt dark-sky lighting rules for new development.