Lehi council denies 16-resident group home and Bull River daycare rezoning, approves 30-acre Lehi Block plan 4-1
April 14, 2020, 5:30 p.m. · Online (www.lehi-ut.gov)
Meeting online, the Lehi City Council unanimously denied a code change that would have allowed group homes of up to 16 residents, and unanimously denied the general plan amendment for a daycare at Bull River Road while approving its development agreement. It approved the Lehi Block development agreement and a change from Industrial to Commercial on about 30 acres, both 4-1, and accepted the tentative fiscal year 2021 budget. A Hutchings Museum expansion concept was discussed with no approval.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 2.1 · Budget
Community Development Block Grant recommendations
Discussed
Jessica DeLora of Mountainland Association of Governments said two applications were recommended for funding: an engineering project to update downtown infrastructure and one for the Children's Justice Center. Council Member Paige Albrecht noted a survey had ranked historic preservation first and asked for more targeted outreach to Main Street businesses. DeLora said the city also has CARES Act funds that must go to COVID-19 response, such as rent or utility assistance.
Item 2.2 · Parks
Hutchings Museum expansion concept
Discussed
Museum representative Dave Harris asked the council for direction and a letter of intent to support fundraising for a modern expansion with an adjacent parking garage. Community Development Director Kim Struthers said staff views the design as too modern for historic downtown and raised parking, drop-off safety at the Legacy Center and utility relocation. Council Member Katie Koivisto shared those concerns and wanted the garage built with the museum and no city subsidy; Council Member Mike Southwick said the museum planned to raise the full amount. Council Member Paul Hancock liked the architecture but had parking concerns. Mayor Mark Johnson said this was not an approval. City Attorney Ryan Wood will draft a letter of intent for a council vote.
Item 3 · Budget
Tentative budget for fiscal year 2021 (Resolution #2020-24)
Approved · 5-0
Finance Director Dean Lundell said adopting the tentative budget only acknowledges receipt and a work session in May will follow. He said revenue concerns exist but reserves are strong and some projects can be delayed. Albrecht asked for a public statement of financial confidence; Koivisto asked about payments to the Timpanogos Special Service District.
- BudgetAmount not given
Item 4 · Subdivision
Sunset Farms Phase 2 preliminary subdivision, 9 lots
Approved with conditions · 5-0
Southwick asked that a neighboring property owner keep access to his irrigation; applicant representative Mitch McCuistion said he would do whatever is necessary.
- Lots: 9
Item 5 · City code
Group home code amendment, up to 16 residents (Ordinance #23-2020)
Denied · 5-0
The applicant sought to raise the cap for group homes in residential areas from 8 to 16 residents and said more residents help treatment progress and that residents do not have vehicles. Struthers said parking standards are one space per four residents and one per two employees. Hancock was concerned about traffic and parking, Koivisto said group homes must blend into residential areas, Albrecht cited resident photos showing many cars, and Southwick said neighbors opposed the increase. The council denied it, with findings about traffic and parking and the number of people in the home.
Item 6 · General plan
Creative Learning Academy at Bull River Road: development agreement and general plan amendment (Resolution #2020-22, Ordinance #15-2020)
Denied · 5-0
The council untabled the item and approved the development agreement, which is conditioned on approval of the ordinance. Applicant Jessica Lloyd said she worked with an engineer and accepted the conditions; the engineer said the building would sit by the road with a walkout basement. Engineering staff said the applicant would have to widen its portion of Bull River Road and a traffic study could be required. Hancock worried about left turns from SR-92 and traffic in residential areas; Council Member Chris Condie said commercial does not fit and the roads cannot support it. The council then unanimously denied the amendment from Low Density Residential to Commercial, finding that Bull River Road is not designed for the added traffic, that traffic from SR-92 and Center Street would worsen, and that commercial does not fit the area.
- Acres: 1.4
- Low Density Residential → Commercial
- Development agreement approved 5-0; general plan amendment denied 5-0
Item 7 · Development
Lehi Block development agreement and general plan amendment, about 30 acres, Industrial to Commercial (Resolution #2020-23, Ordinance #24-2020)
Approved with conditions · 4-1
Representatives Ryan Simmons, Adam Lanford and Mark Murdock presented the project and an architectural exception. Struthers said exceptions include residential in this commercial zone. Hancock said the applicant moved from a transit-oriented development to mixed residential and commercial and he was comfortable with 250 residential units even before light rail. Mayor Johnson raised concerns about growing density requests in the area; infrastructure and a Hales Engineering traffic study were discussed. Albrecht said more housing options are needed. Koivisto had infrastructure and sewer-capacity concerns and asked that the applicant get a positive recommendation from the Timpanogos Special Service District, which was added to the motion. The general plan amendment carried with findings that the traffic study showed adequate infrastructure, residential and commercial units were reduced from the first application, and the I-15 project would meet the area's needs.
- Acres: about 30
- Industrial → Commercial
- Residential units discussed: 250
Item 8 · Subdivision
Micron Middle School road dedication plat
Approved with conditions · 5-0
The council approved a plat dedicating three roads to the city.
Item 9 · Roads and utilities
Pressurized irrigation meter requirement (Resolution #2020-27)
Approved · 5-0
The council required installation of pressurized irrigation meters under section 9-2B-15 of city code.
Item 10 · Contract
Central Utah 911 interlocal agreement (Resolution #2020-25)
Approved · 5-0
The council approved the second amended interlocal agreement for Central Utah 911.
Item 11 · Appointment
Parks, Trails and Trees Advisory Committee appointments (Resolution #2020-26)
Approved · 5-0
The council appointed committee members.
Other
Closed session on litigation
Approved · 5-0
The council voted unanimously to close the meeting to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation.
What residents said
Group home size and parkingBull River Road trafficSewer capacity at Lehi BlockMuseum expansion design and parking
Comment was by email. Residents wrote about the Bull River Road rezoning (traffic and impact on the neighborhood) and objected to a group home proposal's neighborhood impact.