Orem council approves Swig drive-thru site plan and a small R8 to R7.5 rezone; hears North Village and animal shelter concerns
May 25, 2021, 6:00 p.m. · Orem City Council Chambers (held electronically), 56 North State Street
The Orem City Council unanimously approved a site plan for a 573-square-foot Swig drive-thru on University Parkway, a rezone of 0.21 acre from R8 to R7.5 with a general plan amendment near 770 West 650 South, and changes to CDBG spending including $9,944 more for the Sharon Park playground. It also confirmed Bryce Merrill as Recreation Director and updated the water code. Speakers urged action on North Village District zoning and asked the city to require its contracted animal shelter to stop using a gas chamber.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Budget
Work session: CARE tax grant deliberations
Discussed
Staff listed city-related arts requests (Hale Center Theater feasibility study $35,000, Library Hall performance piano $30,000, public art $25,000, SCERA Park art features $125,000) and recreation requests (Hillcrest Park $750,000, indoor leisure pool upgrades $310,625, SCERA Park toddler playground $125,000, co-sponsored groups $30,000). Council Member Jeff Lambson said the CARE commission arrived at $80,870 in mini and mid-major grants, including three new applicants. Members discussed one-time funding and wanting more detailed proposals in future.
- Grant$750,000
- Grant$80,870
- Hale Center Theater feasibility study $35,000; piano $30,000; public art $25,000; SCERA Park art $125,000
- Leisure pool upgrades $310,625; SCERA toddler playground $125,000; co-sponsored groups $30,000
Presentation
Work session: Land use training and League of Cities and Towns briefing
Discussed
The deputy city attorney explained the council's two roles: legislative actions such as rezones, where discretion is broad, and administrative actions such as site plans, where an application that meets current rules is entitled to approval. A Utah League of Cities and Towns representative said the league helped stop about 80 percent of unfavorable bills this year and expects further efforts to shift planning authority from cities. The annual open meeting and ethics presentation was postponed.
Roads and utilities
Work session: City Manager items on water tank site and state road funding
Discussed
The City Manager said the city signed an agreement for the water tank, well and pump house site with a first right of refusal on additional property, and that the State Transportation Commission formalized $20 million for Geneva Road and $35 million for 1600 North.
- Grant$20.0 million to State Transportation Commission
- Grant$35.0 million to State Transportation Commission
Item Presentations · Presentation
Summerfest report, Women in Leadership scholarships, Miss Orem royalty and state champions
Discussed
The council heard the Summerfest Commission's annual report, was told eight city employees would receive Women in Leadership scholarships, recognized the 2020-21 Miss Orem royalty and the Orem High School 5A boys track state champions.
Item Consent · Appointment
Consent items: Recreation Director, board appointment and water code update
Approved · 6-0
The council confirmed Bryce Merrill as Recreation Department Director, appointed Carol Walker to the Recreation Advisory Commission and approved an ordinance updating the water code. Merrill took the oath of office.
Item Public hearing · Budget
CDBG-CV reallocation and amendment to the 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan
Approved · 6-0
HUD rules bar the city from accessing the second CDBG-CV allocation of $287,940 until the full amount is assigned to projects. The CDBG Advisory Commission recommended a computer allocation of $4,485 to Recreation and Habilitation for COVID-related needs and re-allocating $60,000 from the unused senior center renovation project in the first round to four public service projects already approved in round two: Centro Hispano, Sharon Park Elementary, Orem Junior High, and Community Action Services and Food Bank. A Recreation and Habilitation representative thanked the council.
- Grant$4,485 to Recreation and Habilitation
- Grant$60,000
- Second-round allocation: $287,940
Item Public hearing · Budget
Updated CDBG uses for fiscal year 2021-22: $9,944 to Sharon Park playground
Approved · 6-0
HUD notified the city it will receive an additional $9,944 in fiscal 2021-22 CDBG funds because of a formula error. The advisory commission recommended adding it to the Sharon Park playground replacement. No one spoke.
- Grant$9,944 to City of Orem
Item Public hearing · Zoning
Rezone 0.21 acre from R8 to R7.5 and general plan change from LDR to MDR near 770 West 650 South
Approved · 6-0
A property originally two lots, later merged, is to be split again to build one more home. The R8 zone requires 80 feet of frontage and the new lot would be 75.44 feet wide, which meets the R7.5 zone's 75-foot minimum. The general plan classifies R7.5 as medium density, so the applicant also sought a plan amendment. Three neighborhood meetings drew 12 people; five gave written input, one in favor, a couple in favor only if the new lot is the only one in R7.5, and a couple opposed. The applicant said it would remain single-family and the lot would be sold as a typical vacant lot. No one spoke at the hearing, though a written comment from a neighbor was submitted opposing it, citing student rental parking. The council approved the zone change.
- Acres: 0.21
- Current zone → proposed: R8 → R7.5
- General plan: LDR → MDR
- Proposed lot width: 75.44 feet
Item Site plan · Development
Site plan for Swig University Parkway, 76 East University Parkway
Approved · 6-0
The applicant will build a 573-square-foot drive-thru soda shop between existing tenants in a shopping center in the PD5 zone, using thin brick, simulated wood siding and CMU wainscot. Twenty-six parking stalls will be removed; the center requires 1,059 and the revised plan shows 1,067. Staff found the plan meets PD5 rules, and the council is the final approving authority. Members discussed traffic backing up in parts of the center.
- Building: 573 square feet
- Parking: 1,067 stalls provided; 1,059 required
- Zone: PD5
What residents said
North Village District height and parkingTraffic safety on State StreetAnimal shelter euthanasia method
On the North Village District, speakers said a 70-foot, six-story building next to homes does not meet the zone's small-scale purpose and asked for higher parking requirements, a 35-foot height limit and change to the Edge Zone; they said the State Street Master Plan is for State Street rather than property next to homes, and asked for open dialogue with the city now that an application has been submitted. One speaker described a near-collision tied to parked cars on State Street near 1830 North. Three speakers asked the council to pass a resolution or revisit its contract so the North Utah Valley Animal Shelter stops using a gas chamber in favor of lethal injection.