Lehi council limits general plan amendment applications to two months a year and requires 30% for-sale housing in transit areas
August 22, 2023, 7:01 p.m. · Council Chamber, 153 N. 100 E., Lehi
The council voted 3-2 to allow general plan amendment applications only two months a year and 3-2 to require that 30% of units in transit-oriented developments be for sale. It denied Brent Fox's general plan amendment for 501 and 535 North 500 West and tabled his related development agreement. Before the regular session, the council also heard an update from state and county health officials on E. coli contamination in the pressurized irrigation system.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 2.1 · Public safety
Pressurized irrigation E. coli contamination update (pre-council)
Discussed
Water Manager Greg Allred gave a timeline of when the city learned of the contamination. Mayor Johnson voiced frustration at delays and limited information, which made it hard to identify the ponds to treat. Officials from the Utah Department of Health and Utah County Environmental Health said patient privacy law limits information sharing, that E. coli O157 has sickened many people including hospitalized children, and that continued treatment is needed. Council members discussed public education about not using irrigation water for recreation, finding the source, and possible regulation.
Item 2.2 · Presentation
Point of the Mountain Chamber report (pre-council)
Discussed
Chamber President and CEO Mark Welker and Dale Keep of Big D Construction presented the chamber's membership growth, events and marketing, and thanked the city for its sponsorship.
Development
Consensus on development agreement for a concrete batch plant (administrative report)
No action
City Attorney Ryan Wood asked for the council's consensus to prepare a development agreement for a business owner who wants to operate a concrete batch plant. The council said it was willing to consider one. No vote was taken.
Item 4.2 · Contract
Purchase orders
Approved · 5-0
The council approved the purchase orders on the consent agenda along with the prior work session minutes. The minutes list no vendors or amounts.
Item 5 · Contract
Energized line clearance work agreement with Peterson Tree Care (Resolution 2023-55)
Approved · 5-0
The council approved an agreement for energized line clearance work with Peterson Tree Care. Ken Bringhurst of the Power Department was available for questions.
- ContractAmount not given to Peterson Tree Care
Item 6 · Contract
Purchase contract for 55 West Main Street (Resolution 2023-57)
Approved · 5-0
Economic Development Director Marlin Eldred said the city is moving forward with an offer on the property. The council approved the commercial real estate purchase contract. The minutes do not state a price.
- Land dealAmount not given
Item 8 · General plan
Fox general plan amendment, 2.73 acres (Ordinance 42-2023), un-tabled and denied
Denied · 5-0
The council un-tabled the item at the applicant's request to hear it first. Brent Fox said he would prefer approval of the general plan amendment over the development agreement. Council Member Condie then moved to deny the amendment, and all five members voted yes.
- Applicant: Brent Fox
- Current designation → requested: Medium density residential → light industrial
Item 7 · Development
Fox development agreement for light industrial use (Resolution 2023-54)
Tabled · 4-1
Brent Fox approved of the agreement but asked to install a six- or eight-foot concrete fence instead of the landscaping and buffering required in Section 12, saying the site would be a lay-down yard for construction equipment. Resident Casey Glade asked the city to grant the wall. Council Member Condie was hesitant to support an exception raised at the meeting without staff analysis, and Council Member Koivisto thanked staff for keeping city and private applications on the same legal footing. A motion by Council Member Southwick to approve with a 12-foot buffer, no landscaping and a 6-foot concrete fence failed 2-3 (Albrecht, Condie and Koivisto voted no). Council Member Condie then moved to table and direct staff and the applicant to work out a landscaping plan addressing sound and visibility, possibly a hybrid approach with mulch or fewer shrubs; that passed 4-1 with Southwick voting no.
- Applicant: Brent Fox
- Issue: buffer and landscaping requirements for a lay-down yard
- Earlier motion to approve with a concrete fence failed 2-3
Item 9 · Subdivision
Emmetts Commercial Subdivision Plat A, 2 lots
Approved · 5-0
Applicant Scott Litki's two-lot subdivision with no improvements was approved with a note on the plat about a drainage easement and all staff and Planning Commission comments.
- Lots: 2
- Applicant: Scott Litki
Item 10 · Zoning
Clark zone change, 1.46 acres, A-1 to RA-1 (Ordinance 45-2023)
Approved · 5-0
Gary Clark's request to rezone 1.46 acres from agriculture to residential/agriculture was approved with all staff and Planning Commission comments.
- Applicant: Gary Clark
- Acres: 1.46
- Zone: A-1 → RA-1
Item 11 · City code
Limited drive-through facilities in Neighborhood Commercial zone (Ordinance 46-2023)
Approved · 5-0
Glen Gowins, representing the applicant, said the amendment would allow limited drive-through access for neighborhood pharmacies and financial institutions, with attention to site planning and pedestrian elements. The Planning Commission supported it. The council approved the change to Table 05-030-B.
Item 12 · Subdivision
College Farms Plat D plat amendment, combining lots 70 and 71
Approved · 5-0
The council approved a plat amendment consolidating two lots into one with no improvements. Russ Wilson of Symphony Homes represented the applicant.
Item 13 · Development
Development agreement for a single-lot development (Resolution 2023-53)
Approved · 5-0
Applicant Josh Pulham's development agreement for a single lot in an A-1 zone was approved. Other possible improvements along 900 North were discussed.
- Applicant: Josh Pulham
Item 14 · City code
Limiting general plan amendment applications to two months a year (Ordinance 47-2023)
Approved · 3-2
Planning director Kim Struthers said the change makes the code match the council's decision to accept general plan amendment applications only two months a year. Michelle Stallings opposed it, citing hardship for people buying property in time-sensitive deals. Council Member Hancock said it enables a holistic view of impacts on infrastructure; Council Member Albrecht said only eight amendments were proposed in 2022 and the aim was comprehensive review; Council Member Southwick said two months was appropriate compared with the original one-month proposal. Council Member Koivisto disagreed, stressing following the existing general plan.
Item 15 · City code
Group home and rehabilitation facility code changes (Ordinance 48-2023)
Approved with conditions · 5-0
The amendment to Chapter 12 clarifies requirements for rehabilitation and treatment facilities and reasonable-accommodation exceptions for group homes. The council discussed whether the Planning Commission or the council should grant exceptions and approved it with the stipulation that the City Council grants them.
- Condition: reasonable-accommodation exceptions must be granted by the City Council
Item 16 · City code
Three-story height limit in Historic Downtown Design District (Ordinance 49-2023)
Approved · 5-0
The council discussed the three-story limit, including its possible effect on transit-oriented development zones and the need for flexibility, and approved it.
Item 17 · City code
For-sale housing requirement in Transit Oriented Development (Ordinance 50-2023)
Approved · 3-2
The council debated what share of residential units in transit-oriented developments should be for sale rather than for rent. Council Member Koivisto's motion for 60% for sale failed for lack of a second. Council Member Hancock's motion for 30% for sale passed 3-2.
- Requirement adopted: 30% of units for sale
- Koivisto's 60% proposal received no second
Item 18 · City code
Comprehensive rewrite of Chapter 39, Definitions (Ordinance 51-2023)
Approved · 5-0
Mr. Struthers said the rewrite aligns the definitions with the table of uses for clarity. The council approved it.
Item 19 · City code
Site plan approval process, Chapter 11 (Ordinance 52-2023)
Approved · 5-0
Mr. Struthers said the change removes the half-million-dollar valuation threshold so site plans are approved at staff level and go to the Planning Commission only if they involve a conditional use or exception. The council approved it.
Item 20 · City code
Bike parking requirements, Chapter 37 (Ordinance 53-2023)
Approved · 5-0
The council discussed defining the type and spacing of bike racks and indoor or secured storage for larger facilities, and approved the change.
Item 21 · City code
Accessory buildings and accessory dwelling units, Chapter 26 (Ordinance 54-2023)
Approved with conditions · 5-0
The revisions set setbacks according to the height of accessory structures, prompted by a resident's concern about a tall neighboring accessory building built 18 inches from the property line. Council Member Condie's motion changed the 18-inch figure to 30 inches.
- Change made at the meeting: 18-inch requirement raised to 30 inches
Item 22 · City code
Instant runoff voting for primary elections (Ordinance 55-2023)
Approved · 4-1
City Attorney Ryan Wood said Utah County asked for the ordinance because city code does not cite the section of state law that lets the city opt into instant runoff voting.
Item 23 · City code
Campaign financial statement deadline procedure (Resolution 2023-58)
Approved with conditions · 5-0
Mr. Wood explained that state law now gives candidates a 24-hour grace period after the filing deadline. The council directed the election officer not to notify candidates of a missed deadline and clarified that the recorder must accept statements filed within 24 hours. Jason Hill agreed with the content but called the timing poor; Michelle Stallings favored a grace period.
Item 24 · Other
Timpanogos Special Service District reorganization (Resolution 2023-56)
Approved · 5-0
The council consented to reorganizing the Timpanogos Special Service District as a Special District.
Item 25 · Appointment
Historic Preservation Commission appointment (Resolution 2023-52)
Approved · 5-0
The council appointed a new board member, identified in the minutes as Lara Bangerter, to the Historic Preservation Commission.
What residents said
Fairness of screening rules for city versus private projectsTime limits on general plan amendmentsE. coli in pressurized irrigationTall accessory buildings near property lines
Casey Glade said the city uses administrative loopholes to put a private for-profit company on public land under a temporary use permit without a public hearing, and later asked the city to grant the Fox concrete-wall request, citing a double standard. Michelle Stallings opposed limiting general plan amendment windows and favored a grace period for late campaign filings. Jason Hill agreed with the campaign filing resolution but said the timing was bad.