Orem council approves economic development plan, rezones 258 North 800 East and names Steve Earl city attorney
September 13, 2022, 3:45 p.m. · City Council Chambers, 56 North State Street
The Orem City Council approved its Economic Development Strategic Plan, rezoned part of a property at about 258 North 800 East from R8 to R6.5 for two lots, and confirmed Steve Earl as city attorney. In the afternoon work session, staff presented the design of a new city hall building, a plan to consolidate Orem's dispatch center with Provo's, and a revised housing element of the general plan.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Roads and utilities
New city hall building design update (work session)
Discussed
Architects from Method Studio and Layton Construction presented a second design option for the new city building: one connected building with a lobby between two structures, one side built to a higher structural capacity to house the mayor's office and an emergency operations function. City Manager Jamie Davidson and Assistant City Manager Brenn Bybee said the whole building would meet seismic code. A basement is planned under one side only; a builder estimated adding one under the other side at about $2 million because of rock in the soil. The plan includes a council room for about 200, a 311 help center, an emergency operations center and conference rooms on each floor. Council Member Debby Lauret asked that the building still be able to carry Christmas lighting.
- Budget$2.00 million
- Design team: Method Studio and Layton Construction
- Seismic rating discussed: category 4 and 3
Public safety
Orem-Provo dispatch consolidation (work session)
Discussed
City staff described a plan to merge Orem's dispatch center with Provo's, with Lindon also taking part. They said Orem's center has had 13 of 21 positions filled and has not been fully staffed since 2015, that state officials are pushing for fewer dispatch centers per county, and that a joint center would reduce call transfers and let police and fire units assist each other. One-time costs are $189,076 and the annual dispatch budget would rise by $164,700. Orem employees would work out of the Provo center from Oct. 3 under a shared staffing model, current Orem supervisors would remain supervisors, and all full-time Orem dispatchers would be guaranteed a position. Staff said pay is similar, though Orem employees would begin paying into Social Security, and that the center would handle 988 calls.
- Budget$189,076 to Provo City
- Budget$164,700 to Provo City
- Shared staffing begins October 3, 2022
- Prior steps: operational study, financial study, 14-week shared-staffing trial
General plan
Revised housing element of the general plan (Chapter 4) (work session)
Discussed
Planning Division Manager Jason Bench presented the final draft of amendments to Chapter 4 (Housing), which adopts four state moderate income housing strategies: accessory apartments, an affordable senior housing overlay, a housing and transit reinvestment zone, and station area plans. Council Member Debby Lauret asked about the overlay's location, and Mr. Bench said it would be a 60-and-older community. The item goes to the Planning Commission on Sept. 15 and the council on Sept. 27.
- Strategies: accessory apartments (E), affordable senior housing overlay (X), housing and transit reinvestment zone (Q), station area plans (V)
Other
Economic Development Strategic Plan
Approved · 6-0
The council approved by resolution the Economic Development Strategic Plan, which it had continued from Aug. 23 so language could be revised.
Appointment
Appointments: Natural Resource Stewardship Committee, Board of Building and Fire Code Appeals, city attorney
Approved · 6-0
The council reappointed Paul Dunn to the Natural Resource Stewardship Committee for three more years, and reappointed Bryant Christensen, Stephen Frisby, Michael Sroufe and James Williams to the Board of Building and Fire Code Appeals. It also gave advice and consent to City Manager Jamie Davidson's appointment of Steve Earl as city attorney; Mr. Earl had served as interim city attorney since Heather Schriever resigned and has worked for Orem for 25 and a half years. Each vote was unanimous.
- City attorney: Steve Earl (appointed)
Zoning
Rezone of part of property at about 258 North 800 East from R8 to R6.5
Approved · 6-0
The applicants own about three-quarters of an acre and asked to rezone the front 0.36 acres from R8 to R6.5, which allows 65-foot frontage, so it can be split into two lots facing 800 East; a shared driveway is proposed because the road is narrow. A rear parcel to the east would stay R8 and is not part of this request, and the Planning Commission has reviewed only the front portion. At the hearing, a neighbor who lives behind the site spoke in favor; another resident opposed rezoning in general, worried that small changes add up and that a future through street would bring more traffic and parking; and a third opposed more rezoning behind the site and a through street. Council Member LaNae Millett said neighbors on both sides she visited after the neighborhood meeting favored it. Mayor Young said the request made sense but that he would weigh the future road question more carefully.
- Applicant: property owners
- Acres: about 0.75 total; 0.36 in the rezone
- Current zone → proposed: R8 → R6.5
- Public hearing 6:32 p.m. to 6:35 p.m.
City code
Code amendment on moving a house, building or structure
Approved · 6-0
The council amended Sections 22-14-8(A)(1) and (A)(2) of the city code so that the pre-inspection fee for moving a structure is the amount adopted by the council rather than a fixed $50, and so plans are approved by the City Building Official rather than the building inspector. Staff said this removes a discrepancy between the code and the annual fee schedule. No one spoke at the hearing.
- Fee$50
Roads and utilities
City manager report: Heritage water tank, Hillcrest Park, student housing age limits
Discussed
City Manager Jamie Davidson said the bid for the Heritage water tank at 400 South 400 West would be released Sept. 19 to pre-qualified bidders with about six weeks to bid, and that well drilling had been delayed because the required gravel failed testing and a replacement rig had to come from Wendover. He said Hillcrest Park would be bid in two phases, with the demolition package going out Sept. 29. On a resident concern about The Greens student apartments, he said the manager confirmed all tenants are UVU students and agreed to hold future leases to an age limit of 30; about 20 of 1,600 tenants are over 30. Council Member LaNae Millett recalled the project had been approved for people 30 and under.
- Heritage tank bid release: Sept. 19
- Hillcrest Park demolition bid: Sept. 29
What residents said
Orem school districtLibrary displaysFuture through street behind 800 East rezoneStudent housing age limits
Karen Adamson said she preferred an Orem school district, citing Alpine School District growth. John Barrick discussed Orem-only district finances and Alpine revenue. Amy Carr, a longtime library volunteer and employee, said the library was no longer doing Black History Month displays and asked who made the decision; Library Director Charlene Crozier said she directs staff, that displays change from year to year, and that she takes responsibility.