Orem council continues State Street setback rules for two weeks, drops one water tank site and amends the 2020-21 budget
February 23, 2021, 6:00 p.m. · Orem City Council Chambers (held electronically), 56 North State Street
The Orem City Council voted to continue to its next meeting a proposed 50-foot setback and 35-foot height limit near homes in the North Village and Arts districts so it could hear from both residents and property owners. It also amended the 2020-21 budget and changed recreation age categories. In a work session the council agreed to take one privately owned site off the list for a new water tank and heard about public engagement on Hillcrest Park.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Roads and utilities
Work session: Water tank site status
Discussed
Public Works reported on a February 18 neighborhood meeting about possible tank sites. The mayor said Alpine School District would not allow the two ballfields west of Orem Elementary to be used, so that option is gone. Staff described continuing talks with the owners of two privately owned properties, one of them possibly needing a price increase and appraisals, and another under contract whose owner is willing to consider extensions. Members discussed accommodating Mountain View High School baseball fields. The City Manager said the city must work with the school district first. The council unanimously agreed to take one privately owned property off the table.
- Option removed: school district ballfields (not allowed by district)
- Option removed by unanimous council agreement: one private property proposal
Parks
Work session: Hillcrest Park public engagement
Discussed
Staff launched a Hillcrest Park webpage showing the two concepts the council has approved for outreach and their cost estimates, with electronic public meetings set for March 4. Members raised whether the time allotted would be enough and discussed having the Recreation Committee review the options. The City Manager said the concepts reflect needs identified in the Parks Master Plan, which was based on a statistically valid survey.
- Public meetings: March 4, 2021 (electronic)
Other
Work session: City Manager updates on legislation and city operations
Discussed
The City Manager reviewed state bills affecting the city: HB82 on accessory dwelling units (75 percent of residential zones, reduced to 33 1/3 percent in cities with a university), SB61 on converting billboards to digital, and HB364 on the Utah Lake Commission. He also covered employee vaccine reporting, the nearly finished fitness center, recruiting a new Recreation Director to replace a retiring one, a compensation study, and the end of a school resource officer assignment after Alpine School District consolidated its alternative high schools.
Item Presentation · Presentation
Beautification Advisory Commission annual report
Discussed
The commission's chair and vice chair reviewed 2020 work, including gardening classes, updated garage sale rules, social media outreach and beautification and holiday decoration awards. Goals for 2021 include recognition awards, Arbor Day participation to sustain Tree City USA status, and a Summerfest parade entry.
Item Consent · Appointment
Consent items: minutes and board appointments
Approved · 6-0
The council appointed Becky Buxton (reappointment) and Le Nae Millett to the Transportation Advisory Commission and Steven Heaps to the CDBG Commission. An ordinance amending the Employee Appeals Board (Article 2-22) was pulled from the consent agenda and not voted on.
Item Public hearing · Public hearing
Hearing on up to $45 million in water, sewer and storm revenue bonds, Series 2021
No action
The council held a required hearing on the bond issue and its possible economic impact on the private sector. No one commented, and no vote was taken at this hearing.
- Bond$45.0 million
Item Public hearing · Zoning
State Street districts: setback and stepback rules near homes
Continued · 6-0
Staff proposed requiring any structure within 50 feet of a residential zone outside the district zones, or next to the Res-B zone in the North Village District, to be limited to 35 feet in height, with the 50 feet measured from the back of curb when a public street separates them; the rule that setback equal building height would still apply. Residents who spoke or wrote asked for 75 to 100 feet, a transition zone, rezoning of some edge zones, and no connector roads to 400 West, citing traffic and parking. Development Services staff said 50 feet was staff's balance between business and neighbors. Several members asked to continue the item to hear from both residents and commercial owners. Mayor Richard Brunst said 50 feet was a good compromise and that 75 to 100 feet would take away property owners' rights, and he voted against the continuance.
- Proposal: 35-foot height limit within 50 feet of residential zone
- Resident request: 75 to 100 feet
- Hearing: 6:32 to 6:47 p.m.
Item Public hearing · Budget
Fiscal year 2020-21 budget amendment and recreation age categories
Approved · 6-0
The budget amendment reflects grants from federal, state and other entities, interest on unspent 2019 general obligation bond funds, interest in the CARE tax fund tied to the fitness center, funding for a waterline replacement project, and custodial equipment for the fitness center. Recreation also changed age categories at the recreation center and outdoor pools: child from under 4 to under 3, youth from 4-13 to 3-13, and senior from 55 and older to 60 and older. No one spoke at the hearing.
- BudgetAmount not given
- Hearing 7:16 to 7:18 p.m.
What residents said
State Street setbacksTraffic on 400 West and 1600 NorthWater tank locationHillcrest Park amenitiesParking
Two people commented in the general period. One supported a privately owned parcel on 400 West as the water tank site, arguing it would disrupt Orem Community Park less than a tank in the park. Another opposed building more pickleball courts at Hillcrest Park and questioned the pace of the process. At the State Street hearing, speakers and written comments asked for setbacks of 75 to 100 feet where edge zones abut homes, rezoning some edge zones to Res-B, lower height limits, no connector roads onto 400 West, wider street setbacks on 1600 North and more parking; one speaker said he looked forward to his property moving back to the R8 zone under a pending resident petition.