Orem council rezones hospital land 6-1, annexes 1.86 acres and approves new public safety pay structure
September 29, 2020, 4:00 p.m. · Orem City Center, 56 North State Street (held electronically)
The council approved a rezone of IHC hospital-area land, annexed 1.86 acres in the southwest, allowed more housing in the Northgate Village zone, limited climate-controlled storage across State Street zones and amended the FY2020-21 budget with a new public safety pay program. In a work session, only two members favored studying a new City Center design.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Presentation
Valley Visioning growth scenarios and UTA update (work session)
Discussed
Envision Utah presented five growth scenarios for Utah Valley, which is projected to add 1 million people by 2065; public feedback generally favored organized centers, westward growth and urban infill. UTA trustee Kent Millington said UVX ridership fell about 75% in April and had recovered to around 65,000 riders, and described ongoing regional transit studies.
Roads and utilities
Orem City Center building options (work session)
No action
City Manager Jamie Davidson said the 1970 City Center needs seismic work (about $2.6 million), and that a seismic and operational renovation was estimated at about $17.6 million versus about $22.6 million ($453 per square foot) for a new municipal center including a justice court; about $1.2 million has gone into the building since 2017. A concept design from Method Studio would take 90 days and cost about $15,000 to $50,000. Mayor Brunst favored rebuilding with a revenue bond, citing low interest rates, ADA accessibility and earthquake risk, and opposed a general obligation bond because it would raise property taxes. Council Members Brent Sumner and Tom Macdonald wanted a public vote and did not see urgency; Macdonald cited the Federal Reserve holding rates through 2023. Only Council Members David Spencer and Debby Lauret supported seeing a concept, so the project did not move forward.
- Budget$22.6 million
- Budget$17.6 million
Item Consent · Other
Consent agenda: council meeting policies and procedures
Approved · 6-0
The council approved amendments to its Meeting Policies and Procedures, a Public Works retention schedule and prior minutes.
Item 9.1 · Zoning
IHC Health Services rezone near Orem hospital, 505 West 400 North (23.75 acres)
Approved · 5-1
IHC Health Services asked to change the General Plan designation of about 23.75 acres from Low Density Residential to Medium Density Residential, rezone the land from R8 to R7.5, and add about 0.79 acres to the Hospital Overlay zone, to match surrounding R7.5 land. IHC said it has no plans to change the hospital site but periodically reviews property and may need other uses in future. Council Member Terry Peterson said he saw no compelling reason for the change and would vote no. A written comment said the change would leave an island of R8 homes east of the hospital.
- Applicant: IHC Health Services
- Acres: about 23.75, plus 0.79 acres added to Hospital Overlay
- Current zone → proposed: R8 → R7.5; General Plan LDR → MDR
Item 9.2 · Annexation
Annexation of 1.86 acres at 1526 South 1250 West
Approved · 6-0
The council annexed 1.86 acres, set the General Plan designation to Low Density Residential/Southwest and zoned it OS5. The annexation petition was accepted June 8; one comment in the protest period, from a neighbor worried about access to an irrigation ditch, was answered by staff saying water rights would not be affected. Applicant Mark Steffensen said he and a partner own adjacent land and hope to develop it together. No development plans had been filed. Council Member Debby Lauret confirmed the seven-unit cap for planned developments near the temple applies.
- Acres: 1.86
- Zone: OS5; General Plan LDR/SW
Item 9.3 · Zoning
Northgate Village (PD22 zone) residential units at 1140 West 950 North
Approved · 6-0
Applicant Bruce Dickerson asked to amend the PD22 Urban Village rules and three Appendix Q maps so residential condominiums, similar to nearby Villa D'Este, can replace a church site contemplated in the concept plan. The 700-unit zone maximum stays; unused units are moved from the Mixed-Use area (112) and Mixed-Use Towers area (19) to a Residential Only area. Dickerson said units would likely sell in the low $200,000 range with FHA approval, an owner-occupancy restriction, two parking stalls per unit and an on-site manager. The Planning Commission recommended approval.
- Applicant: Bruce Dickerson
- Units: 131 reallocated within the 700-unit PD22 cap
Item 9.4 · City code
Towing services business with building as permitted use in M2 zone
Approved · 6-0
The council created Standard Land Use Code 6422 (Towing Services Business with building) as a permitted use in the M2 zone, separating it from impound yards (code 6421) because the two are licensed differently.
Item 9.5 · City code
Limit on climate-controlled storage in C2 and State Street district zones
Approved · 5-0-1
The 2015 cap of two climate-controlled storage buildings in the C2 zone is clarified to count combined totals across C2 and the five State Street District zones created in 2018. Staff filed the change Aug. 10; a separate applicant's proposal for a facility at 44 East 800 North, filed the next day, was rejected as incomplete. The applicant's attorney had said the application prompted the code change; Planning Division Manager Jason Bench said staff filed first. Mayor Brunst moved to deny and raise the limit to three, saying the two existing facilities are well kept; the motion died for lack of a second. Council Member Tom Macdonald's motion to approve the clarification passed; Council Member Terry Peterson abstained and said he preferred recreation uses on the site.
Item 9.6 · Budget
FY2020-21 budget amendment and new public safety pay program
Approved · 6-0
The amendment adds grants and donations, interest on unspent 2019 general obligation bond money, impound yard business license fees, a new $50 fee to rescind a legal accessory apartment, a 3% merit increase for non-public-safety staff, and a Public Safety Hybrid Step Program replacing the merit system for sworn police and fire personnel. Finance Manager Brandon Nelson said the pay changes would be covered by higher sales tax revenue. Fire Chief Marc Sanderson thanked the council for the pay restructure.
- Fee$50
What residents said
Illegal massage businesses in residential areasCity Center cost and financingRezone consistency near the hospital
One resident wrote about a suspected illegal massage business in a neighborhood and asked the city to act; another proposed an educational living farm on city land near SCERA Park.