Planning commission backs making owners responsible for all sidewalk frontage and dropping side-lot utility easements
December 3, 2025, 6:30 p.m. · American Fork City Hall, 31 N. Church St.
With four members present, the American Fork Planning Commission recommended a code change making property owners responsible for maintaining sidewalks and park strips on every frontage of their lot, including side and rear, and another eliminating the 5-foot public utility easements required along the sides of new lots. Commissioner Geoff Dupaix pointed to overgrown weeds narrowing sidewalks and trails along 900 West and 1120 North, including city-owned land near Mitchell Hollow Park.
From the draft minutes.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Sidewalk cleaning by property owner code amendment (Section 12.12.030) | Recommended for approval · 4-0 |
| Public utility easements code amendment (Section 15.01.110) | Recommended for approval · 4-0 |
| General plan comment deadline | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item 3a · City code
Sidewalk cleaning by property owner code amendment (Section 12.12.030)
Recommended for approval · 4-0
City Engineer Ben Hunter said the change makes owners or occupants responsible for the entire frontage of a property, front, side and rear, including park strips and sidewalks behind subdivision walls. Code enforcement typically gives a warning and 30 days. Staff noted new developments must meet water-efficiency rules (no lawn in new park strips) and that the planned 300 West/200 South roundabout will be xeriscaped; the city removes park-strip trees that damage sidewalks and usually repairs the damage. Dupaix asked for seasonal newsletter reminders.
- Applies to front, side and rear frontage
- Enforcement: warning plus 30 days typical
Item 3b · City code
Public utility easements code amendment (Section 15.01.110)
Recommended for approval · 4-0
Removes the requirement for 5-foot public utility easements along the sides of all new lots, keeping 10-foot front and 5-foot rear easements. Hunter said side easements are rarely used; power, gas and communications use front easements and the city obtains dedicated easements for water or sewer when needed. Dupaix said the side easement had been a sticking point on past projects.
- Side PUEs eliminated; 10-ft front and 5-ft rear PUEs remain
Item Other · General plan
General plan comment deadline
Discussed
Chair Anderson noted commissioners had until Dec. 8, 2025, to send comments on the draft general plan to Development Services Director Patrick O'Brien, and few had been submitted.
What residents said
Overgrown sidewalks and trails on 900 West and 1120 North
No one spoke at either public hearing.