Orem council allows small pediatric therapy centers in R7.5 zone and delays Auburn Meadows grocery plan over parking concerns
September 14, 2021, 3:00 p.m. · City Council Conference Room (work session) and Council Chambers (regular session), 56 North State Street
The Orem City Council unanimously made small pediatric neuro physical therapy facilities a permitted use in the R7.5 residential zone, clearing the way for the nonprofit Now I Can to buy a long-vacant property. It continued to Oct. 26 a request to replace a planned senior living area at Auburn Meadows with a grocery store after residents described heavy parking and traffic problems on Geneva Road. Earlier, in a work session, the council heard about utility rates, a proposed conservation easement on a family orchard, a connected-vehicle pilot and a Farley property water tank design.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Zoning
Small pediatric neuro physical therapy use in the R7.5 zone
Approved · 6-0
Planning Division Manager Jason Bench said the ordinance adds Standard Land Use Code 6264 and a new Section 22-6-9(L), allowing a facility that treats no more than five children at a time and has at least eight parking stalls. It was prompted by Now I Can, which wants to use a property Bench said has sat vacant for years. Council Members Terry Peterson and Tom Macdonald said they supported the group. Five speakers, including parents of children treated by the group, spoke in favor; one nearby resident said he usually opposes buildings in his neighborhood but supported this use.
- Limit: no more than five children at a time
- Parking: at least eight stalls
Zoning
Auburn Meadows (PD-43) Area B: grocery store and commercial uses, Geneva Road and 2000 South
Continued · 6-0
Bench said the original PD-43 plan reserved Area B for senior independent living; the developer now wants a grocery store and other commercial use there and to enlarge Area B by taking land from Area A. The amended concept shows a small grocery with commercial space fronting Geneva Road or a larger grocery with one pad, possibly a fast-food restaurant. The change would move 12 residential units and eliminate nine. A traffic study would be required. Residents who spoke at the hearing raised parking and traffic on Geneva Road, one reporting 51 cars parked along it that morning, and some said they received notices late or not at all. Council Member Brent Sumner said he wanted a market eventually but the council should wait until Geneva Road was more built out. Council Member David Spencer and Peterson asked for another neighborhood meeting, and Mayor Brunst said he was not comfortable proceeding with the existing parking problems. The council continued the item to Oct. 26 at 6 p.m.
- Neighborhood meeting held May 14, 2021 (four attendees)
- Net change: 12 units relocated, 9 units eliminated
- Planning Commission recommendation not stated in minutes
Other
Name 150 North between 668 West and 800 West also 'Parkside Lane'
Approved · 6-0
Bench said the resolution gives the road the same name as the elementary school on it, which is now called Parkside Elementary; the principal asked for the change.
Budget
CDBG-CV use of funds and amendment to 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan
Approved · 6-0
Staff said HUD gave Orem a second Community Development Block Grant allocation of $287,940 for COVID-19 response. The CDBG Advisory Commission recommended using part of $39,681.68 in previously allocated public services money to help Community Action Services and Food Bank buy and install a walk-in cooler, and re-allocating $20,000 from Orem Senior Friendship to a capital plumbing repair. No one spoke at the hearing.
- Grant$39,682 to Community Action Services and Food Bank
- Grant$20,000 to Orem Senior Friendship
Contract
Consent agenda: Summerfest Commission appointments and water supply agreement
Approved · 6-0
The council reappointed or appointed four members to the Summerfest Commission and authorized the mayor to sign a water supply agreement among the city, the Central Utah Water Conservancy District and the Metropolitan Water District of Orem.
Budget
Work session: 2021 Utility Financial Plan
Discussed
Public Works Director Chris Tschirki said the 2021 water, sewer and storm water master plans adopted in April led to a new financial plan using a mix of bonds and pay-as-you-go funding, with rate increases paused in fiscal 2021. A consultant from Lewis, Young, Robertson & Burningham presented suggested rate adjustments. Council Member Jeff Lambson asked for data on usage by water tier.
Parks
Work session: Crandall Orchard conservation easement
Discussed
Staff said the Crandall family wants a conservation easement on part of its property to keep it a working orchard, with limited public access such as school field trips. The Natural Resources and Stewardship Committee recommends it. Payment would go to the family in exchange for development rights; staff listed preserving Orem's heritage as the benefit and difficulty of road work or removal as drawbacks. The council agreed to explore it.
Roads and utilities
Work session: Orem Connected Vehicle Project
Discussed
A UDOT representative described connected-vehicle technology, which lets vehicles, roadside units and intersections exchange safety data, and said Orem would be the first city to take it on citywide, as earlier work was on state roads. City staff said they favor the idea. The council discussed equipment placement and security.
Roads and utilities
Work session: Farley property water tank design
Discussed
A Bowen Collins & Associates engineer presented design concepts for a water tank on the Farley property that would also serve as a passive park. Council Members Spencer and Peterson asked for the tank to be low or buried, Macdonald wanted no paths on top, Council Member Debby Lauret asked for a perimeter fence like the one at the Sego Lily tank, and Mayor Brunst asked to see updated designs before any neighborhood meeting.
City code
Work session: City code update
Discussed
City Attorney Heather Schriever and staff reviewed a broad cleanup of the city code: renamed departments, gender-neutral wording, renumbering, animal control, towing, home occupations, zoning enforcement, a hearing officer instead of an employee appeals board, and the move of the Neighborhood Preservation Unit to the Neighborhood Improvement Team.
Other
Closed meeting on pending or imminent litigation
Approved · 6-0
The council voted to go into a closed strategic session under Utah Code 52-4-205(1)(c) at the end of the regular session. The minutes record no action afterward.
What residents said
Parking on Geneva RoadTrafficMeeting notificationLibrary displays
During personal appearances, one resident said a mailed notice of a Planning Commission meeting arrived too late and that finding planning information took too many steps. Two residents read and spoke for a petition with more than 2,200 signatures supporting LGBTQ+ topic displays at the Orem Library. Representatives and supporters of Now I Can asked for the council's help with a treatment center. At the Auburn Meadows hearing, residents raised parking and traffic on Geneva Road and notification of neighborhood meetings.