Orem council finalizes three Provo boundary changes and continues Lakeview street-connection vote after resident opposition
January 23, 2024, 3:00 p.m. · City Council Chambers, 56 North State Street, Orem
The Orem City Council voted 6-0 on each of three ordinances adjusting the Orem-Provo boundary, including moving a 3.18-acre residential phase near 700 North 1550 East into Provo under a development agreement. It voted 5-1 to continue until Feb. 13 a request to remove planned street connections between 1430 South and 400 West in the Lakeview area, after eight residents spoke, most opposed. Council Member Tom Macdonald is not listed in attendance.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Orem's mayor is a voting member of the seven-member council. The minutes count the six council members in each tally and record the mayor's vote beside it, so a council vote of 6-0 with the mayor voting yes is 7-0 with the mayor.
In brief
8 items came up for a decision or discussion: 4 approved, 3 discussed, and 1 continued.
1 vote was not unanimous: Resolution to remove street connections between 1430 South and 400 West (Lakeview Area Street Connection Master Plan) (5-1).
The agenda records 2 dollar amounts, the largest $625,000.
4 items here are tracked in the city's development tracker.
This write-up links 3 source documents and the meeting video.
6 members were present and 1 absent (Council Member Tom Macdonald).
Residents raised road connection at 1630 south, lakeview traffic and density, and emergency access gate.
The previous City Council meeting was on January 9, 2024: Orem council seats new members, appoints Millett to Utah Lake Authority and hears station-area plan options
The next one was on February 13, 2024: Orem council votes 7-0 to deny removal of Lakeview street connections and approves Maverik sign zone
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Ordinance: Orem-Provo boundary near 1030 East and 1630 South | Approved · 6-0 with the mayor |
| Ordinance: Orem-Provo boundary at 2000 South and Columbia Lane | Approved · 6-0 with the mayor |
| Ordinance: Orem-Provo boundary at 700 North 1550 East (River District) | Approved · 6-0 with the mayor |
| Resolution to remove street connections between 1430 South and 400 West (Lakeview Area Street Connection Master Plan) | Continued · 5-1 among council members |
| Consent: minutes and Transportation Advisory Commission reappointments | Approved · 6-0 with the mayor |
| MGT efficiency study: police and finance purchasing (work session) | Discussed |
| Victims' advocate division and domestic violence (work session) | Discussed |
| Impact fee study and CDBG priorities (work session) | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item Sched. · Annexation
Ordinance: Orem-Provo boundary near 1030 East and 1630 South
Approved · 6-0 with the mayor
Assistant Development Services Director Jason Bench said the change makes the boundary match how residents are taxed. A resident said neighbors wanted the road to stay a dead end rather than connect to Provo and asked for a speed bump; City Attorney Steve Earl noted one council cannot bind a future council. The council approved the change with a statement that its desire is for the road to stay closed.
Item Sched. · Annexation
Ordinance: Orem-Provo boundary at 2000 South and Columbia Lane
Approved · 6-0 with the mayor
The change places about 77,410 square feet, including a street and a detention basin Orem uses, entirely in Orem along the property line; no residential properties move. No one spoke at the hearing.
Item Sched. · Annexation
Ordinance: Orem-Provo boundary at 700 North 1550 East (River District)
Approved · 6-0 with the mayor
The ordinance places about 3.18 acres entirely in Provo so a residential phase can be built there; phases 2 and 3a are commercial and stay in Orem. A development agreement requires bridge improvements, public utility easements for the city and a future dedication for vehicle and pedestrian access between 1550 East and University Avenue. Staff recommended approval; no one spoke at the hearing.
- Acres moved to Provo: about 3.18
- Applicants: developers Jamie Chapman and Jim Ivory
Item Sched. · General plan
Resolution to remove street connections between 1430 South and 400 West (Lakeview Area Street Connection Master Plan)
Continued · 5-1 among council members
Bench said the master plan requires the streets to connect if the land is developed. The applicant, Mr. Leichty, wanted them removed to pursue a development of cabin-style units operated as one hotel; staff was comfortable removing the 1430 South connection but not 400 West. Pros of removal: no required public connection and many neighbors do not want it. Cons: uneven traffic and less emergency access and utility connection. Eight residents spoke, most opposed, asking that roads stay and the area remain residential, and a few supported no road. The applicant's engineer said the gate would be for emergency access only. Council Member David Spencer asked whether there was a compelling reason to change the plan and said he believed there was not. Council Member LaNae Millett was concerned about voting without seeing what would be proposed; Council Members Jeff Lambson and Jenn Gale said the testimony affected their thinking. The council continued the item to Feb. 13.
Item Consent · Appointment
Consent: minutes and Transportation Advisory Commission reappointments
Approved · 6-0 with the mayor
Approved minutes and reappointed Russ Verhoef and Becky Buxton.
Budget
MGT efficiency study: police and finance purchasing (work session)
Discussed
MGT Consulting found no serious problems. For police, it did not recommend 24/7 lobby service and found supervisory structure consistent with peers, recommending a formal policy on investigations span of control. For purchasing, it recommended raising the approval threshold from $25,000 to $50,000 and keeping the city's in-house system rather than buying commercial software. Mayor Young asked for spot checks.
Public safety
Victims' advocate division and domestic violence (work session)
Discussed
Police Chief Josh Adams said victim advocates handled 570 new domestic-violence victims in 2023 (up from 287 in 2017) and proposed a domestic violence investigator. The federal VOCA grant has fallen from over $160,000 to $56,000 in 2023 and consumes about half an advocate's time, and staff suggested dropping it.
- Grant$56,000
Taxes and fees
Impact fee study and CDBG priorities (work session)
Discussed
Consultant Fred Philpot said impact fees for water, wastewater, storm water, roads, parks and public safety were last updated in 2018, with results to come to a later work session. Mountainland Association of Governments staff said Orem's anticipated FY24 CDBG funding is $625,000, with 22 applications from current grantees and three new.
- Grant$625,000 to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
What residents said
Road connection at 1630 SouthLakeview traffic and densityEmergency access gate
Residents' comments on the boundary and Lakeview street items appear in those items; one resident thanked the council for the Christmas lights.