Orem council continues North Village District height and parking rules to a July 27 special meeting after a long public hearing
June 29, 2021, 6:00 p.m. · Orem City Council Chambers, 56 North State Street
After a hearing in which about 20 people spoke, the Orem City Council voted 6-0 among council members, with Mayor Richard Brunst opposed, to continue proposed height and parking standards for the North Village District to a special meeting on July 27. Staff proposed a 60-foot maximum height and two parking stalls per unit; Council Members Terry Peterson and David Spencer wanted to vote that night on lower limits, but the deputy city attorney warned the change had not been properly noticed. The council also approved a Sunset Heights permit parking program and more COVID relief grant spending.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Work session: American Rescue Plan Act funding | Discussed |
| Work session: Holiday fireworks, water tank property and fraud risk | Discussed |
| Consent items: Mayor Pro Tem, Sunset Heights parking permits and building code amendments | Approved · 6-0 |
| CDBG-CV reallocation: Meals on Wheels and critical home repair | Approved · 6-0 |
| North Village District height and parking standards | Continued · 6-0 |
| Fiscal year budget amendments | Approved · 6-0 |
| Closed meeting for City Manager evaluation | Approved · 6-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Budget
Work session: American Rescue Plan Act funding
Discussed
Staff reviewed Treasury guidance, eligible uses (public health, economic impacts, premium pay, water, sewer and broadband infrastructure, administrative expenses) and reporting requirements for the city's American Rescue Plan Act money, which the minutes record as just over $16 (unit not shown). Projects being explored include funding for Hillcrest Park and a new City Hall. The council also toured The Green at Campus Drive with its property manager before the session.
- GrantAmount not given
- Possible uses: Hillcrest Park, new City Hall
Public safety
Work session: Holiday fireworks, water tank property and fraud risk
Discussed
The fire chief said the department does not recommend a citywide fireworks ban because only a few areas, such as the east bench, Vineyard and Lindon, are major fire hazards, and extra patrols and crews will be ready. The City Manager showed examples of garden-style uses for the water tank property, and the council said it was in agreement on the project. The finance director handed out a fraud risk questionnaire, prompting discussion of a possible fraud hotline.
Item Consent · Other
Consent items: Mayor Pro Tem, Sunset Heights parking permits and building code amendments
Approved · 6-0
The council confirmed David Spencer as Mayor Pro Tem for July through December 2021, approved a resolution creating a residential parking permit program in the Sunset Heights neighborhood after a petition and traffic study showed apartment residents' vehicles were the main source of parking there, and amended Chapter 7 of the city code on building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, fire and abatement codes.
Item Public hearing · Budget
CDBG-CV reallocation: Meals on Wheels and critical home repair
Approved · 6-0
From the earlier second-round CDBG-CV public service funds of $109,455, the advisory commission recommended $25,000 to Meals on Wheels for increased senior participation during the pandemic and $24,773.32 to the city's Critical Home Repair and Home Rehabilitation program for emergency repairs. No one spoke. The minutes record the motion as approval of the 'enterprise fund transfer', which appears to be a drafting error.
- Grant$25,000 to Meals on Wheels
- Grant$24,773 to City of Orem Critical Home Repair and Home Rehabilitation
- Second CDBG allocation: $287,940
Item Public hearing · Zoning
North Village District height and parking standards
Continued · 6-0
Staff proposed a maximum height of 60 feet in the NVD-Core, NVD-Edge and NVD-Res(A) zones, taken from the C2 zone that previously applied, in addition to existing limits (35 feet within 70 feet of a residential zone, setback at least equal to height, 35 feet in Res(B)). They also proposed raising parking in NVD-Core and NVD-Edge from 1.75 to 2 spaces per unit over base density; the current standard was adopted October 8, 2019 using the 2019 parking study. About 20 people spoke. Most opposed the planned development, citing traffic, child safety, parking and the zone's small-scale purpose; requests included a 48-foot limit and 35-foot setback, and 35 feet in the edge zone. An attorney for nearby residents read state law on how councils may adopt or modify planning proposals. One landowner said family property in the zone was rezoned without notice and her taxes rose, and another speaker said a more profitable use such as a car dealership would be possible. Council Member Jeff Lambson said the council should consider how a project looks from the neighborhood behind State Street. Council Members Terry Peterson and David Spencer asked for 48 feet in the core and 35 in the edge zone and to vote that night, but the deputy city attorney, other staff and members warned that a change this different had not been noticed and could invite legal action; Spencer said he would accept that risk. He moved instead to continue to a special meeting on July 27.
- Staff proposal: 60-foot maximum height; 2 stalls per unit in NVD-Core and NVD-Edge
- Resident and council member requests: 48 feet in core, 35 feet in edge; setbacks up to 35 feet
- Continued to special City Council meeting July 27, 2021
Item Public hearing · Budget
Fiscal year budget amendments
Approved · 6-0
The finance director presented proposed amendments to the budget and members discussed various figures and timelines. The minutes title the item fiscal 2020-21 but record the motion as amending the fiscal 2021-22 budget. No one spoke at the hearing.
- BudgetAmount not given
Item Closed meeting · Other
Closed meeting for City Manager evaluation
Approved · 6-0
The council voted to go into a closed meeting to discuss the character, professional competence or health of an individual under state open meetings law. The closed meeting ran from 8:25 to 9:50 p.m.; no action is recorded.
What residents said
North Village District height and parkingTraffic at 1600 North and 400 WestQuick Quack Car Wash accessProperty taxes after rezoning
In the general period, a landowner said her family's roughly 5 acres in the North Village District was rezoned without notice and her property taxes rose sharply; a resident said under state law the council could make large changes to planning proposals; another said a land use application for the 1600 North property was incomplete and that records requests were outstanding; and two residents raised traffic at the 1600 North and 400 West intersection and Quick Quack Car Wash access. During the North Village hearing about 20 speakers, mostly opposed to the proposed high-density development, cited traffic and child safety, parking, building height, and the zone's intended small scale.