Lehi council approves Dancing Moose Montessori agreement 3-2 despite traffic objections and rezones 35 acres at Innovation Way
March 31, 2020, 6:00 p.m. · Online (www.lehi-ut.gov)
Meeting online during the COVID-19 emergency, the Lehi City Council approved a development agreement letting the Dancing Moose Montessori School build at Thanksgiving Point ahead of an amended area plan, 3-2, after an earlier motion requiring the area plan first failed 2-3. It also rezoned 35 acres on Innovation Way from Business Park to Commercial, 4-1, and tabled a proposed daycare site at Bull River Road pending a development agreement. Council members approved a fiber network feasibility study contract with Magellan Advisors and a long list of subdivisions, annexations and code amendments.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 2.1 · Presentation
Fraud risk assessment
Discussed
Finance Director Dean Lundell said a state checklist rates the city at moderate to high fraud risk and suggested a fraud hotline, an audit committee or a shared or full-time auditor. Mayor Mark Johnson suggested reviewing the employee code of ethics.
Item 2.2-2.3 · Public safety
COVID-19 operations briefings
Discussed
Fire Chief Jeremy Craft described how EMS procedures changed to limit exposure. The council agreed by consensus not to allow food trucks on city property at this time, citing concern about gatherings. City Administrator Jason Walker said City Hall is closed to the public but services continue by phone and online, and only leisure facilities like the library and Legacy Center were shut.
Item 3.2-3.8 · Contract
Consent agenda: purchase orders, policy and code items, Verizon lease amendment, irrigation valve contract
Approved · 5-0
The council approved, together, purchase orders; an employee policy manual change on compensation and classification (Resolution #2020-19); a restricted vehicles code change to conform to state law (Ordinance #12-2020); an amendment to the option and lease agreement with Verizon Wireless (Resolution #2020-14); a business license term and renewal clarification (Ordinance #13-2020); and an agreement with Craig F Sorensen Construction to install pressurized irrigation valves (Resolution #2020-21). The minutes give no amounts.
- ContractAmount not given to Craig F Sorensen Construction
Item 3.7 · Contract
Fiber network feasibility study with Magellan Advisors (Resolution #2020-15)
Approved · 5-0
Pulled from the consent agenda for discussion. Walker said the city received five responses to a request for proposals and wanted a neutral third party to analyze whether to join a model like UTOPIA or offer fiber on its own; he said UTOPIA bid at no cost but he saw too much conflict of interest because it has something to gain. The city's financial advisor, Laura Lewis, said she was impressed with Magellan's expertise. Council Member Paige Albrecht asked whether Magellan has a financial interest in the outcome; Walker said it does not and has no interest in operating a system for Lehi. Mayor Johnson said the study should reduce the city's risk.
- ContractAmount not given to Magellan Advisors
Item 4 · Development
Dancing Moose Montessori School development agreement at Thanksgiving Point (Resolution #2020-20)
Approved · 3-2
Mike Washburn of Thanksgiving Point said a Montessori school complements the campus and the agreement addresses traffic and the incomplete amended Thanksgiving Point area plan; many drop-offs would be by people already working there. Mayor Johnson said the area plan has no moratorium but must be amended, and he allowed the proposal because of its uniqueness. Council Member Katie Koivisto said the area plan should come first, worried about liability if the city later denied another request, wanted a stipulation barring further building, worried the site could be reused for something other than a school, and cited sewer impacts. City Attorney Ryan Wood said the agreement is tied to this project, an educational use only, and sets no legal precedent; City Engineer Lorin Powell said sewer has capacity and engineering supports it only because of the developer's traffic mitigation. Council Members Chris Condie, Paul Hancock and Albrecht cited the unique, limited-impact use and expected traffic relief from I-15 work; Albrecht said traffic was her main concern. Koivisto's motion to require an approved area plan amendment first failed 2-3 (Southwick and Koivisto yes). Condie's motion, with a finding that the approval rests on this school-specific agreement and its limited impact, passed 3-2.
- Earlier motion to require an approved Thanksgiving Point area plan amendment first failed 2-3
- Agreement limits site to an educational facility
Item 5 · Zoning
Innovation Way zone change, 35 acres, Business Park to Commercial (Ordinance #14-2020)
Approved with conditions · 4-1
Kent England, for the applicant, said he was surprised the Planning Commission recommended denial after unanimously approving the general plan amendment, and thought landscape percentages caused confusion. Community Development Director Kim Struthers said the city is eliminating the Business Park zone and wants denser buildings there; the negative recommendation stemmed from lower landscaping requirements in Commercial. Wood said denying a zone change that matches the general plan needs well-founded findings and is a very high bar.
- Acres: 35
- Business Park → Commercial
- Planning Commission recommendation: denial
Item 6 · General plan
Creative Learning Academy general plan amendment, 1.4 acres, Low Density Residential to Commercial (Ordinance #15-2020)
Tabled · 5-0
Applicant Jessica Lloyd, owner of a childcare business, proposed a daycare with a drop-off zone and access only from Bull River Road. Council members raised the retaining wall and steep grade, traffic on Bull River Road and opening the parcel to commercial use. Written comments from the property owner's representatives and commercial brokers supported it as a buffer between homes and commercial uses and said daycare is needed; a neighbor objected to traffic and said neighbors would consider legal options. The council tabled the item so a development agreement could be drafted limiting wall height to 7 feet, with the land stepping down toward the back, and Koivisto suggested a walkout basement.
- Acres: 1.4
- Low Density Residential → Commercial
Item 7 · Annexation
Joyce Jones Annexation, 4.846 acres (Ordinance #16-2020, Resolution #2020-16)
Approved with conditions · 5-0
After a public hearing with no comments, the council approved the annexation and the annexation agreement with Commercial and TH-5 zoning. Clayton Preece said the parcel is currently an island and the intent is to apply for a telecommunications tower.
- Acres: 4.846
- Zones: Commercial and TH-5
Item 8 · Subdivision
Hunting Farms preliminary subdivision, 8 lots
Approved with conditions · 5-0
The council granted preliminary approval to an 8-lot residential development.
- Lots: 8
Item 9 · Other
Vialetto Way street vacation (Ordinance #17-2020)
Approved with conditions · 5-0
After a public hearing with no comments, the council vacated a portion of Vialetto Way between Revello Court and Oakridge Drive, conditioned on recording of the Area Plan amendment, at Council Member Paul Hancock's request.
Item 10 · Development
Hidden Canyon Plat C grading permit, 27.13 acres
Approved with conditions · 4-1
The council approved a grading permit for Plat C.
- Acres: 27.13
Item 11 · Subdivision
New Star Commercial Development final subdivision, 3 lots
Approved with conditions · 5-0
The council granted final approval to a 3-lot commercial subdivision.
- Lots: 3
Item 12 · Annexation
Allred B Annexation intent to annex, 0.57 acre (Resolution #2020-17)
Approved with conditions · 5-0
The council approved the resolution of intent to annex with a proposed RA-1 zone.
- Acres: 0.57
- Proposed zone: RA-1
Item 13 · Zoning
Pine Springs zone change, 3.1 acres, TH-5 to R-3 (Ordinance #18-2020)
Approved with conditions · 4-1
The council approved the rezone following February's general plan amendment. Dan Ford represented the applicant.
- Acres: 3.1
- TH-5 transitional holding → R-3 high density residential
Item 14 · Annexation
Jacketta M. Clark Annexation, 12.29 acres (Ordinance #19-2020, Resolution #2020-18)
Approved with conditions · 5-0
After a public hearing with no comments, the council approved the annexation with R-1-22 zoning and the annexation agreement, with the resolution date corrected to March 31.
- Acres: 12.29
- Zone: R-1-22
Item 15 · Subdivision
Staten Farms Plat B preliminary subdivision, 9 lots
Approved with conditions · 5-0
The council granted preliminary approval to a 9-lot residential development.
- Lots: 9
Item 17 · Subdivision
Mitchell Grove final subdivision, 21 lots
Approved with conditions · 5-0
The council granted final approval to a 21-lot residential subdivision.
- Lots: 21
Item 18 · Subdivision
Hooke Vista final subdivision, 13 lots
Approved with conditions · 5-0
The council granted final approval to the 13-lot subdivision.
- Lots: 13
Item 19 · City code
Development Code amendments to Chapters 5, 12, 17, 23, 37 and 39 (Ordinance #21-2020)
Approved with conditions · 4-1
Struthers said Historic District boundary conflicts were clarified and short-term rental and bed-and-breakfast definitions were tightened.
Item 20 · City code
Corner-lot exceptions in the General Non-Residential Design District (Ordinance #22-2020)
Approved with conditions · 5-0
Struthers said Chapter 37 now allows more exceptions to parking-stall location on corner lots and the Table of Uses was cleaned up, removing one permitted use.
Item 16 · City code
Small Breed Dog Care Facility use (Ordinance #20-2020)
Approved with conditions · 5-0
Considered at the end of the agenda, the council added a small-breed dog care facility use and definition in certain non-residential zones, subject to the Development Review Committee's comments including the police officer's.
What residents said
Traffic at 2150 North and 2300 WestThanksgiving Point area plan not yet amendedLate posting of agenda materialsBull River Road traffic and retaining wallPrecedent and legal liability
The meeting was held online without live comment; written comments were attached. On Dancing Moose, residents of Cranberry Farms and Pointe Meadows said traffic at 2150 North and 2300 West must be addressed first, objected to late posting of the agenda and maps, and worried that an exception could invite lawsuits from other developers; one supporter praised the school's program and said it fits the site. On Bull River Road, the property owner and two commercial brokers supported the daycare as a buffer and a needed service, while a neighbor objected to added traffic and commercial use.