Orem council rezones 883 N. State St. and allows transitional treatment homes in C3 zone
June 27, 2023, 3:30 p.m. · Orem City Center, 56 North State Street, Orem
The council unanimously rezoned portions of 883 North State Street to C3 and C2 and made transitional treatment homes a permitted use in the C3 zone, a change tied to the Refuge Center for Women and Children in Crisis' plan to expand. It also approved a 2022-23 budget amendment, the 2021 building and fire codes, and Debby Lauret as Mayor Pro Tem. Council members toured the Hillcrest Park construction site before the meeting.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Parks
Hillcrest Park construction tour (work session)
Discussed
Council members toured Hillcrest Park with the design and construction team (Blu Line, WPA architects and Bud Mahas Construction). Plans include a splash pad, pickleball courts, a walking path and open grass, and a building with a basketball court, snack bar and lounge. The tentative completion date is October 31, 2023.
Other
State fraud risk assessment (work session)
Discussed
Finance Director Brandon Nelson said Orem scored 335 out of 395 on the State Auditor's fraud risk questionnaire, which places it in the low-risk category.
Taxes and fees
Plan to put CARE tax renewal on the ballot (work session)
Discussed
City Attorney Steve Earl said the current CARE tax expires this year and a renewal resolution would come to the August 1 meeting. The tax is split 50% to recreation and 50% to cultural arts and pays for city-owned facilities and operations, but only operations at privately owned venues. Members discussed protecting the 50% allocation; Earl said the resolution can be changed before a vote but binds the city once adopted, for 10 years.
City code
Consent: Mayor Pro Tem, commission appointments, 2021 building and fire codes and Neighborhood Commission ordinance
Approved · 6-0
The council approved naming Debby Lauret Mayor Pro Tem for the rest of 2023, appointing Crystal Muhlestein to the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, reappointing Nathan Christiansen to the Cultural Advisory Commission, an ordinance updating the city's building and fire code reference from the 2018 to the 2021 codes, and an ordinance amending Article 2-34 on the Orem Neighborhood Commission.
Budget
Amendment to the fiscal 2022-23 budget (public hearing)
Approved · 6-0
Finance Director Brandon Nelson said the water fund cost more than planned and needed more money, and that the general fund had exceeded its allowed ceiling, so funds were moved to the capital projects fund. No one spoke at the hearing.
Zoning
Rezone at 883 North State Street and Transitional Treatment Homes in the C3 zone (public hearing)
Approved · 6-0
The council rezoned portions of the property at 883 N State Street so the front is C3 and the back is C2, replacing a split of two zones, and made Transitional Treatment Homes (land use code 1283) a permitted use in the C3 zone. Representatives of the Refuge Center for Women and Children in Crisis said they want to expand their shelter for Orem and Provo women and children on the site; Evergreen Development would buy the property and sell a portion to the Refuge Center. Council members asked what other treatment homes could be permitted in C3. One resident spoke in support, citing community need, and a nearby resident asked what would happen if a different treatment center were to come in.
- Applicant/developer: Evergreen Development
- Proposed user: Refuge Center for Women and Children in Crisis
- Zones: portions to C3 (front) and C2 (rear)
- Code change: Transitional Treatment Homes (SLU 1283) permitted in C3
What residents said
Treatment homes in C3 zoneEasement rulesParking tickets in cul-de-sacGreen waste cans
A resident gave the council a copy of Utah Code on public utility easements and said it allows structures in easement areas. Another thanked the city for new benches along a community park path. A third asked that green waste cans return and raised parking tickets issued in his cul-de-sac where residents park perpendicular to the curb. At the 883 N State hearing one resident supported the Refuge Center and one raised concern about a different treatment center locating there.