Lehi council rejects temporary green waste site on 1700 West and approves North Lehi station area plan
April 8, 2025, 5:01 p.m. · Council Chamber, Lehi City Hall, 153 N. 100 East
The Lehi City Council rejected a proposed temporary green waste facility at 1700 West 1400 South after residents raised traffic and environmental concerns. It approved the North Lehi Station Area Plan, a ProSteel Customs development agreement and a tentative $63.7 million fiscal 2026 budget, and tabled the Whitmore general plan amendment and a one-kitchen rule for townhomes. The pre-council and regular sessions were held the same evening.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 2.1 · Presentation
Hospital / 2100 North Station Area Plan update
Discussed
Christine Richmond of GSBS gave an update on the state-required station area plan for the planned north Lehi transit station. The plan proposes a central hub with gathering spaces, a connected network of roads and paths, and coordination with a future I-15 interchange. She said the timing of actual transit service is uncertain, which complicates implementation.
Item 2.2 · Presentation
Finance report
Discussed
Finance Director Dean Lundell reported on the general fund balance and the effect of large claims. Sales tax revenue has fluctuated because of online sales, and the budget is ahead of expectations.
Item 2.3 · Contract
Waste Management contract extension
Discussed
Blake Leonelli of Waste Management said the city's contract is coming up for renewal and the company wants to continue serving Lehi. He said Lehi has benefited from the blended value rate for recyclables.
- ContractAmount not given to Waste Management
Item 2.4 · Parks
Proposed temporary green waste facility at Mellor-Rhoads Park
Discussed
Parks and Facilities Manager Steve Marchbanks proposed a green waste drop-off and grinding site at the future park site, which would supply topsoil for the park. Council members discussed the benefits, logistics, concerns about neighbors and ways to reduce impacts. The item went to a public hearing later the same evening.
Item 2.5 · Other
Employee Policy Manual revisions
Discussed
Human Resources Director David Kitchen presented changes that extend the workplace harassment policy to all protected classes and revise the parental leave policy.
Item 5 · Budget
Public hearing on Series 2025 bonds (fiber network)
Discussed
Finance Director Dean Lundell explained the process for issuing the Series 2025 bonds and the value of a high bond rating. The bonds relate to the city's fiber network project. The mayor opened the hearing and no one commented.
- BondAmount not given
Item 6 · Taxes and fees
Fee schedule changes for cemetery and Literacy Center (introduced)
Discussed
City Treasurer Alyson Alger presented fee changes, including a new fee for the Literacy Center's summer discovery program. Upper-section cemetery plots would rise to $1,300 for residents and $1,600 for non-residents, $300 more than the lower section, to encourage sales of lower-section plots. The hearing and vote were set for April 22.
- Fee$1,300
Item 7 · Budget
Budget Adjustment #2 for fiscal year 2024-25 (Resolution 2025-17)
Approved · 5-0
Dean Lundell presented the second amendment to the current-year budget. The public hearing drew no comments.
- BudgetAmount not given
Item 8 · Budget
Tentative budget for fiscal year 2026 (Resolution 2025-18)
Approved · 5-0
Lundell said total revenue is projected at $63.7 million with steady tax revenue growth. Highlights include new police and parks positions; one-time costs include a $600,000 health insurance reserve, a city website update, equipment for new officers and a portable ice rink. Further discussion and final adoption were expected in May.
- Budget$63.7 million
- Budget$600,000
Item 9 · Parks
Public hearing: green waste facility at 1700 West 1400 South
Denied
Mayor Johnson described the facility as a temporary way to clear trees, add fill and improve soil for a future park, with a contractor offering to remove Russian olive trees and grind them on site at no cost. Residents who spoke raised truck noise and traffic on 1700 West, school bus stops, a possible five-year timeline, dust, methane and well water, and the need for the facility. The contractor said truck movements would avoid peak hours, material would be ground and removed quickly, and a dust control plan and water trucks would be used. The mayor and council concluded that the location was unsuitable, citing traffic, and agreed unanimously to reject the proposal while encouraging the contractor to look at other sites. The minutes do not record a formal motion or roll call.
- Zone: Public Facilities
- Cost to city: none proposed; contractor to grind material on site
Item 10 · Development
Development agreement with ProSteel Customs (Resolution 2025-23)
Approved · 5-0
Community Development Director Kim Struthers said the council had directed staff to work with ProSteel Customs on a development agreement. The agreement resolves the auto sales and rental request considered in the next item.
Item 11 · City code
Code amendment: auto sales and rental on parcels over one acre in Commercial zone (Ordinance 10-2025)
Denied · 5-0
The amendment to Table 05.030-B had been tabled March 18. Struthers said the ProSteel development agreement resolves the issue, and the council denied the amendment on that basis.
Item 12 · Annexation
Resolution of intent to annex: Salt Spring annexation
Approved · 5-0
The council approved a resolution of intent to annex about 13.32 acres at about 500 East 950 South with TH-5 zoning, applicant Cameron Smith, including Development Review Committee comments.
- Applicant: Cameron Smith
- Acres: 13.32
- Proposed zone: TH-5
Item 13 · Annexation
Resolution of intent to annex: Clark Meadows annexation
Approved · 5-0
The council approved a resolution of intent to annex about 7.2 acres at about 1800 West 1300 South with R-1-22 zoning. Kaden Hazard was the applicant.
- Applicant: Kaden Hazard
- Acres: 7.2
- Proposed zone: R-1-22
Item 14 · City code
Business license code amendment (Ordinance 16-2025)
Approved · 5-0
The council amended Title 4, Chapter 1 of city code on general business license provisions, which had been discussed in an earlier pre-council meeting.
Item 15 · General plan
North Lehi Station Area Plan (Ordinance 17-2025)
Approved with conditions · 5-0
Christine Richmond presented the state-mandated plan covering a half-mile around the future rail station at about 3200 West Traverse Mountain Boulevard. Representatives of the Bateman Irrevocable Trust, the main landowner, said the plan could restrict future development and asked that it be tabled so the owners could work with the city. Struthers said the plan is conceptual and non-binding and differs from the city's own area plans. The council approved it with direction to legal to clarify that no entitlements or requirements attach, that the plan can be amended, that the Bateman trust does not agree with the current concept, and that it is a state-defined station area plan, not a city area plan like Traverse Mountain, Skye or Holbrook Farms.
Item 16 · General plan
Whitmore general plan amendment, 4150 N. Digital Drive (Ordinance 18-2025)
Tabled · 5-0
Applicant Jim Whitmore asked to change 2.41 acres from Commercial to Light Industrial, saying the land is hard to develop as commercial now; proposed uses are semi-truck parking and a sod transfer area. Council members favored a three-year development agreement allowing those limited light industrial uses while keeping the commercial zoning, and asked staff to consider the site for a green waste facility. The council tabled the ordinance and directed staff to draft the agreement.
- Applicant: Jim Whitmore
- Acres: 2.41
- Land use: Commercial → Light Industrial (requested)
- Direction: 3-year development agreement; applicant returns to request extension
Item 17 · Development
Inverness East Side grading permit
Approved with conditions · 5-0
Scott Bishop, for the applicant, said the permit is needed to move dirt between phases and balance cut and fill to limit trucking. The council approved it for about 197 acres with Development Review Committee comments.
- Acres: about 197
Item 18 · General plan
Skye Area Plan amendment adding two uses (Ordinance 19-2025)
Approved · 5-0
Howard Cook, representing the Gardner Group, said the amendment lists two uses that were previously implied so potential anchor tenants are more comfortable.
Item 19 · City code
One-kitchen rule for townhomes and condos (Ordinance 20-2025)
Tabled · 4-1
Struthers said the building division had seen permits for second kitchens in townhomes, which could lead to overcrowding. Council members debated how enforceable a limit would be; Council Member Condie questioned how to define a kitchen. The council tabled the ordinance and asked staff to develop a definition of a kitchen.
Item 20 · Contract
Interlocal agreement with Utah County for 2025 municipal elections (Resolution 2025-20)
Approved · 5-0
City Recorder Teisha Wilson said the cost has risen because of inflation, higher poll worker wages and new state ballot printing mandates. The maximum contract amount is $240,000, and she hopes to negotiate it down. The council approved the agreement and directed staff to negotiate a lower maximum.
- Contract$240,000 to Utah County
Item 21 · Appointment
Appointments to the Parks, Arts, Recreation and Cultural Advisory Committee (Resolution 2025-16)
Approved · 5-0
The council appointed members to the PARC Advisory Committee. The minutes do not list names.
What residents said
Traffic on 1700 WestTruck noise and dust at proposed green waste siteMethane and well waterPioneer Crossing congestion and trashLandowner rights under station area plan
Kate Peterson raised speeding on 1700 West. Shauna Jones said traffic backs up at 2300 West and Pioneer Crossing so residents of her subdivision cannot exit. Bob Richardson said trash from uncovered dump trucks on Pioneer Crossing ends up in his hay fields. At the green waste hearing, about a dozen residents raised truck noise, traffic, dust, methane, groundwater, a conflict-of-interest question and how temporary the site would be. At the station area plan hearing, representatives of the Bateman Irrevocable Trust asked that the plan be tabled.