Planning commissioners review scaled-back general plan and code rewrite, debate wider side-yard setbacks
April 15, 2026, 6:30 p.m. · City Administration Conference Room, 51 E. Main St.
Development Services Director Patrick O'Brien told the American Fork Planning Commission that the city, after a crowded February hearing, had 'rewound' many proposed general plan, zoning and code changes and now mostly aims to match land use maps to what is already built. Commissioners debated a proposal to widen minimum side setbacks on residential lots from 18 to 22 feet combined, suggesting 8 and 12 feet instead, and supported allowing gyms and similar uses in the PI-1 industrial zone as conditional uses. Staff said the PO-1 professional office area along 300 North would be 'squared off.'
From the approved minutes.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| General plan, zoning map and development code rewrite | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item b · General plan
General plan, zoning map and development code rewrite
Discussed
O'Brien presented the presentation given to the City Council two weeks earlier, with a public open house targeted for May 20. The code rewrite removes outdated sections (34 pages of obsolete building code) and conforms to new state law, including detached ADUs on lots over 11,000 square feet. Proposed residential side setbacks would go from 8/10 feet (18 combined) to 10/12 feet on interior lots and 8/20 feet on corner lots, to give access for trailers, sheds and pools and reduce trailers parked on streets; Commissioner Harold Dudley worried about existing homes, and commissioners asked for 'legal non-conforming' language and suggested 8 and 12 feet. Commercial zones would pull buildings to the street with parking behind (maximum 10-foot setback in CC-1). The PO-1 zone along 300 North would be squared off and unannexed parcels added to it upon annexation; Anderson relayed one owner's objection, and O'Brien said existing homes would be grandfathered. PI-1 would gain box gyms, cheer and indoor sports as possible conditional uses; I-1 stays the same, S-1 may fold into PF (including the Developmental Center, whose managers are exploring redevelopment), and the SP zone near the Boat Harbor would get manicured open space and a boardwalk trail. Land use designations would be simplified, a linear park would follow the Vineyard Connector/Pony Express alignment under the power corridor, and land west of it would be held until the connector alignment with Lehi is settled. Commissioners also raised planning commission term limits, set for council discussion May 5.
- Presenter: Patrick O'Brien, Development Services Director
- Open house targeted for May 20, 2026
- Side setbacks proposed: 10/12 ft interior, 8/20 ft corner (now 8/10 ft)
- Commission suggestion: 8 and 12 ft
- PI-1: gyms/indoor sports as conditional use
- No action taken