Planning commission backs FrontRunner station area plan after century-farm owners vow to fight
August 20, 2025, 6:00 p.m. · American Fork City Hall, 31 N. Church St.
The American Fork Planning Commission recommended the city's state-required Station Area Plan for the half mile around the FrontRunner station, adding conditions to label the Allred family's century farm on the maps and to call the plan's alternatives 'conceptual options.' Farm owners Neal Allred and Amber Lamph said they will never sell and would fight an option showing their land redeveloped. The commission also recommended updated block and street overlay maps for the TOD zone.
From the draft minutes.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| American Fork Station Area Plan (general plan amendment) | Recommended for approval · 4-0-1 |
| TOD operational overlay maps code amendment (Section 17.4.608) | Recommended for approval · 5-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item 4a · General plan
American Fork Station Area Plan (general plan amendment)
Recommended for approval · 4-0-1
City-initiated update of the 2014 station area plan, required by the state for cities with a fixed-guideway station, covering the half-mile around the FrontRunner station, with a December 2025 state certification deadline. Development Services Director Patrick O'Brien said the plan was shaped by two years of stakeholder meetings, a Steel Days booth, and talks with UDOT and UTA; it is conceptual and non-binding, keeps the station in place as the preferred option, and floats a possible second station at 500 East. He described planned flyovers over the tracks connecting to 700 West and over I-15, access to the future Pony Express connector, a desired parking structure with UTA, and staff's practice of refusing developer requests to cut commercial space in the TOD. He said costs should fall on developers rather than residents. Commissioner Geoff Dupaix abstained, citing a conflict-of-interest clause with his employer related to transit studies.
- Applicant: American Fork City
- Area: half mile around American Fork FrontRunner station
- State certification deadline: December 2025
- Conditions: label the century farm on maps and legend; rename 'options' to 'conceptual options'; add land availability to flow charts
- Commissioner Dupaix abstained (employer conflict)
Item 4b · City code
TOD operational overlay maps code amendment (Section 17.4.608)
Recommended for approval · 5-0
City Engineer Ben Hunter presented updated Block Type Overlay and Operational Overlay maps for the Transit Oriented Development zone to match existing and planned roads. Darker lines show required connections, which developers may modify slightly; developments over 15 units require a second access and traffic studies. No public comment.
- Updates TOD block-type and district maps to match road network
What residents said
Century farm land shown for redevelopment near FrontRunner stationForced high-density TOD zoning on farmlandPoor bus service at the stationParking at the FrontRunner stationInadequate public noticeRoad and weed maintenance near the TOD
Neal Allred, who lives at the west end of 200 South, said his late wife's family farm became a century farm last year, the family will not sell, and 'option 2' showing redevelopment of the land 'will not happen'; he said the city forced the TOD on unwilling owners, put the station in the wrong place, and has let roads and weeds in the area decline, and asked why no buses bring riders from Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs and Lehi. Jenna Allen, who lives within 500 feet, supported a walkable mixed-use area with commercial and a parking structure and asked for better notice, including on social media. Amber Lamph said she has fought for 15 years to have her farmland removed from the TOD, regrets annexing, asked that option 2 be removed, criticized last-minute agenda changes and asked why planning commission meetings are not in AF Notify.