Orem council denies Holiday Oil gas station plan on Geneva Road after residents object

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Other

   Recycling plant tour and plastic film recycling (work session)

   Discussed

   Council members toured a Waste Management recycling plant in Salt Lake. Blake Leonelli said the plant serves Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and Arizona and described it as the most advanced in the country, and reminded the group that recyclables should never be bagged.

2. City code

   Proposed code changes on city manager succession, manager powers and the election code (work session)

   Discussed

   City Attorney Steve Earl proposed that Orem's election code refer to the state election code rather than be updated each time state law changes, since the city code is out of compliance; the same approach would apply to the section on vacancies in the offices of mayor and council members. Council Member LaNae Millett wanted to keep one difference: requiring campaign contributions received within 30 days after an election to be reported to the city. Earl also proposed clarifying the order of succession for the city manager after a resignation or dismissal, and the city manager's power to appoint an acting manager with a majority vote of the full council.

3. Presentation

   Employee engagement survey results (work session)

   Discussed

   Ron Gailey of OnPointe Insights reported on a survey requested by the council, taken June 27 to July 18 with 95% of full-time staff participating. He said 80% of employees feel the city is heading in the right direction, 87% rated working for Orem somewhat or much better than for other cities, and 80% said they are very or somewhat motivated. Priorities rated lower included executive communication, hearing different ideas, fair application of policies and manageable workload; ratings were high for executive integrity, work-life balance, tools and team environment.

4. Other

   Consent: updated 2023 council schedule and Recreation Advisory Board reappointment

   Approved · 6-0

   On the consent agenda the council approved an updated 2023 council meeting schedule, the reappointment of Skip McWhorter to the Recreation Advisory Board, and several sets of earlier meeting minutes.

   Moved by Council Member Tom Macdonald, seconded by Council Member LaNae Millett. Vote: 6-0; Mayor David A. Young also voted yes

5. Development

   Holiday Oil gas station development agreement at Geneva Road (public hearing)

   Denied · 6-0 · Geneva Road, near 1981/2000 South

   The council denied an amended development agreement for a gas station on C2-zoned land on Geneva Road, listed as 1981 South Geneva Road (the staff presentation said 2000 South). The land was rezoned to C2 in 2020 with an agreement for a gas station flanked by two fast-food businesses; Holiday Oil bought it and sought a different floor plan, a drive-through and its own branding. The company dropped a car wash and moved its trash enclosure closer to Geneva Road after the Planning Commission did not recommend approval, and said it would dim lights at night, omit side tenants and plant trees, and that it paid C2 prices for the land. About 18 residents spoke, nearly all opposed; they cited traffic, safety, noise and light, effects on home values and a nearby school for children with autism, and said they believed the area would stay residential and that they were not informed of the 2020 rezone. Council members discussed options, including rezoning to C1, C3 or R8, which City Attorney Steve Earl said would need an application. Council Member LaNae Millett said there was no buffer between the commercial and residential zones originally; Council Member Terry Peterson cautioned about other uses a rezone could allow.

   • Applicant: Holiday Oil
   • Zone: C2
   • Planning Commission: did not recommend approval
   • Requested changes: different floor plan with company branding, added drive-through; car wash removed

   Moved by Council Member David Spencer, seconded by Council Member Terry Peterson. Vote: 6-0 to deny; Mayor David A. Young also voted yes

   Follow Holiday Oil gas station, Geneva Road in the development tracker →

6. Taxes and fees

   CARE tax renewal placed on the November ballot

   Approved · 6-0

   The council approved placing a question on the November 2023 municipal ballot asking whether to renew the one-tenth of one percent CARE sales tax, which funds city-owned recreation and cultural facilities, operating costs of city-owned recreation facilities and operating costs of private nonprofit cultural groups. City Attorney Steve Earl said it would be split 50% recreation and 50% cultural arts. Council Member Debby Lauret noted that shoppers from nearby cities help pay the tax. Council Member Terry Peterson said he opposes many taxes but supports this one.

   • FeeAmount not given Renewal of the 0.1% CARE sales and use tax (about $1 per $1,000 spent), subject to voter approval. Advisory ballot question. Paid from Sales tax

   Moved by Council Member Jeff Lambson, seconded by Council Member David Spencer. Vote: 6-0; Mayor David A. Young also voted yes

What residents said

Gas station next to homesDrive-throughTraffic on Geneva RoadLight and noiseProperty values

About 18 residents spoke at the Geneva Road hearing, nearly all opposed to the gas station. Concerns included commercial use next to homes, the drive-through, 24-hour operation, light and noise, traffic on Geneva Road, safety, effects on property values, proximity to a school for children with autism, and whether residents were told of the 2020 rezone. Some asked that the land be rezoned residential.