Orem council rezones 14.7 acres on Geneva Road to PD36 for three office/warehouse buildings and changes accessory apartment rules
July 13, 2021, 3:00 p.m. · Orem City Council Chambers, 56 North State Street
The Orem City Council unanimously approved rezoning about 14.7 acres at 1430 North Geneva Road from Highway Services to PD36 for three office/warehouse buildings, and amended its accessory apartment ordinance to follow a change in state law. It also approved budget amendments to carry out a compensation study and $20,000 in COVID relief grant funds for the Senior Friendship Center. Council Member Brent Sumner was absent. In a work session members backed a Hillcrest Park master design and a new parking enforcement team.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Parks
Work session: Hillcrest Park master design
Discussed
Landmark Design presented a master design with a demonstration garden, twelve new pickleball courts, a splash pad and large open lawn spaces. The consultant recommended building in one phase as most cost effective, and the City Manager said the city could likely pay for the whole project at once. Members discussed basketball and tennis court locations, shade, water conservation, homeless people near the park and better access from a rest home to the west. The council agreed on the direction of the design.
- Features: demonstration garden, 12 pickleball courts, splash pad, open lawns
Public safety
Work session: Parking enforcement team, drug prevention and compensation study
Discussed
Police staff described a city parking enforcement team with first-year start-up cost of $65,155; the council supported moving ahead. The police chief said city parks and schools are gang-free zones and that Orem saw no significant gang activity in the past year. The Utah Valley Drug Prevention Coalition presented youth drug use data and safe disposal services. Human resources reviewed a compensation study and hybrid step programs for police, fire and public works; Council Member Tom Macdonald asked for turnover statistics.
- Budget$65,155
Item Consent · Other
Consent: June 29 minutes
Approved · 5-0
The consent agenda contained only approval of the June 29 minutes.
Item Public hearing · Budget
CDBG-CV: $20,000 for Orem Senior Friendship Center plumbing
Approved · 5-0
The CDBG Advisory Commission asked the council to approve $20,000 from second-round CDBG-CV funds for the Orem Senior Friendship Center to fix plumbing problems. No one spoke. The minutes record the motion as approval of the 'enterprise fund transfer', which appears to be a drafting error.
- Grant$20,000 to Orem Senior Friendship Center
Item Public hearing · City code
Accessory apartment ordinance amended to follow state law
Approved · 5-0
Because the Legislature changed state law, Orem can no longer limit an accessory apartment's size or number of bedrooms or require interior connection to the main home. Accessory apartments must stay within the footprint of the single-family dwelling and remain subject to rental dwelling license requirements. No one spoke.
Item Public hearing · Zoning
Rezone 14.7 acres from Highway Services to PD36 at 1430 North Geneva Road
Approved · 5-0
The applicant asked for the PD36 zone to build three buildings like those at the neighboring Orem Technology Campus: 95,760, 99,900 and 8,400 square feet, for office and warehouse use. The main reason is parking: the HS zone requires one stall per 250 square feet, about 783 stalls, while PD36 requires one per 750 square feet for the first 50,000 square feet and one per 1,000 for the next 50,000, about 250 stalls. Appendix DD would be amended to add the concept plan and elevations. PD36 may apply between 1200 North and 1600 North and between I-15 and Geneva Road. Staff recommended approval. Members discussed building height and public road access. No one spoke.
- Acres: about 14.7
- Current zone → proposed: Highway Services (HS) → PD36
- Buildings: 95,760 sq ft, 99,900 sq ft and 8,400 sq ft
- Parking required: about 783 (HS) vs about 250 (PD36)
- Staff: recommended approval
Item Public hearing · Budget
Fiscal year 2021-22 budget amendments for compensation study
Approved · 5-0
The finance director said the city hired a third party to evaluate its compensation and benefits and that the amendment carries out the study's recommendations, including new pay programs and hybrid step programs for employees, which were presented in the work session. No one spoke. Dollar amounts are not given in the minutes.
- BudgetAmount not given
What residents said
North Village District development
One speaker thanked some council members for listening to residents about the North Village District and questioned why some members did not agree with those opposing large development there.