Orem council rezones 23-acre Canyon Park site from research park to single-family homes
March 25, 2025, 4:00 p.m. · 56 North State Street, Orem
The Orem City Council rezoned about 23.3 acres at 1203 North 630 East (Canyon Park) from Timpanogos Research and Development Park (PD-6) to Single Family Residential (R8) for a Tri Point Homes plan of roughly 77 to 79 lots; no one spoke at the hearing. The Ken Garff rezone on 1200 South was continued again, to April 8, at the applicant's request. In the work session, staff previewed the general plan update, proposed utility rate increases averaging about 10%, and the sale of city-owned homes on 1600 North to UDOT.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| 2025 General Plan update | Discussed |
| Sale of city-owned 1600 North homes to UDOT | Discussed |
| Recommended CDBG allocations | Discussed |
| Proposed utility rate increases | Discussed |
| Fiscal year 2026 revenue and compensation presentations | Discussed |
| 2025 election agreement with Utah County | Approved · 5-0 |
| CARE tax arts grants deliberation | Discussed |
| Consent: commission appointments | Approved · 5-0 |
| Canyon Park rezone, 1203 North 630 East: PD-6 to R8, about 23.3 acres | Approved · 5-0 |
| Ken Garff rezone, 134 East 1200 South (continuance) | Continued · 5-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item W1 · General plan
2025 General Plan update
Discussed
Planning Manager Jared Hall said the update is built around four steps: align, involve, adopt and integrate, with adoption targeted for October 2025 and council updates in June and August. Required elements are land use, transportation, moderate income housing and water; the Planning Commission also recommended redevelopment, economics, housing, parks, public services and urban design. Community Development Director Gary McGinn said the plan will summarize the city's other plans and focus on four priorities: safe and livable neighborhoods, community-focused government, a balanced business environment and dependable infrastructure.
Item W2 · Roads and utilities
Sale of city-owned 1600 North homes to UDOT
Discussed
City Engineer Taggart Bowen and UDOT's Eric Rasband said Orem used MAG funds to buy homes along 1600 North for a future corridor, and the agreement requires repaying MAG if the road is built. The homes are now to be sold to UDOT and the money returned to MAG. A portion of Bonneville Park is part of the project, with the park payment going to landscaping and betterments of the new corridor; Council Member Millett clarified the park will remain.
Item W3 · Budget
Recommended CDBG allocations
Discussed
Staff presented proposed Community Development Block Grant spending for the coming year: public services capped at 15% of the roughly $600,000 HUD allocation, regional projects in Provo and Lehi, victim and homeless services, loan repayment, code enforcement, critical home repair and neighborhood preservation. Remaining funds, possibly combined with CARE and LWCF money, could replace playground equipment at Cherry Hill Park, which serves two adjacent CDBG-eligible neighborhoods.
Item W4 · Taxes and fees
Proposed utility rate increases
Discussed
Fred Philpot of LRB Public Finance presented a rate study driven mainly by capital costs, with operating costs inflated 3% and capital 4.5% a year. Proposals: a 3% annual increase to water base and usage rates, an up-front 28.5% increase to sewer base rates followed by inflationary increases, a 6% up-front stormwater increase, and new pass-through fees for the Deer Creek and Jordanelle water projects, averaging about 10% overall. The plan pairs rate increases with a 20-year bond; members discussed the length of the amortization and a possible 40-year WIFIA loan. Staff said Orem's rates remain among the lowest in the area.
Item W5 · Budget
Fiscal year 2026 revenue and compensation presentations
Discussed
Finance Director Brandon Nelson reviewed year-to-date revenue and the FY2026 projection, including flat sales tax (projected at $32,805,000 in the General Fund), lower interest earnings, a UTOPIA fee reimbursement and possible cemetery fee changes. No solid waste fee increase was proposed. HR and management staff described the compensation plan: 481 full-time employees, funding of 3% step increases, merit increases, career ladder advancement and market adjustments under the hybrid step program. All figures were preliminary.
- Budget$32.8 million
Item W6 · Contract
2025 election agreement with Utah County
Approved · 5-0
City Recorder Teresa McKitrick presented an interlocal agreement under which Utah County will handle ballot design, printing, mailing, processing, signature verification, equipment and polling places for the 2025 municipal election. The resolution authorizing the mayor to sign it was approved on the consent agenda.
Item W7 · Budget
CARE tax arts grants deliberation
Discussed
Finance staff reported that a record 38 applications were reviewed over three nights by Council Members Jeff Lambson and David Spencer and five commission members, with about $125,000 targeted for major grant recipients. Council members said CARE funds should supplement an organization's other funding, and praised the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre. A formal award vote will come at a later meeting.
- Grant$125,000
Item R1 · Presentation
Giving Machines report
Discussed
Mark and Shelley Seastrand of the Orem Community Council reported that the Light the World Giving Machines in Orem had 16,600 transactions and 45,845 items purchased, with 65% of donations staying local, and presented plaques to nine local charities.
Item R2 · Presentation
Justice Court report on interpreters
Discussed
Justice Court Judge Reed Parkin said the court has provided interpreters in more than 29 languages since 2010, with Spanish most common (over 6,800 cases), and that interpreted cases take nearly three times as long as English-language cases.
Item R3 · Presentation
Legislative recap from the Utah League of Cities and Towns
Discussed
Jared Tingey said 959 bills were introduced; the league tracked 279, supporting 34 and opposing 26. He reviewed bills on state land use districts (SB 337), housing policy (HB 88), zoning amendments (HB 90) and general plan requirements (SB 262), as well as a housing loan fund and billboard relocation.
Item R4 · Appointment
Consent: commission appointments
Approved · 5-0
The council approved the reappointment of Quinn Mecham to the Natural Resources Advisory Commission and appointments of Kirsten Bascom and Tamara Rodriguez to the Neighborhood Advisory Commission, with the election resolution.
Item 10.1 · Zoning
Canyon Park rezone, 1203 North 630 East: PD-6 to R8, about 23.3 acres
Approved · 5-0
Tri Point Homes asked to rezone the site from Timpanogos Research and Development Park (PD-6) to Single Family Residential (R8). A concept plan shows about 77 to 79 single-family lots with road connections to 1200 North and Research Way; subdivision approval would still be required. The Planning Commission voted 5-2 to recommend approval. Brian Prince of Tri Point said the company held nine neighborhood meetings and hopes to begin land development this year and home construction next year. Mayor Young said he supported the rezone because single-family housing fits Orem's "Family City USA" identity, noted the absence of opposition at the hearing, and described the change from a commercial/research zone to residential as a less intensive use. No one spoke at the public hearing. The minutes' roll-call text and vote table also list Chris Killpack as voting yes although the attendance section records him absent; counted here as 5 present members (needs human check).
- Applicant: Tri Point Homes
- Acres: about 23.3
- Current zone to proposed: PD-6 to R8
- Planning Commission: 5-2 recommending approval
- Concept: about 77-79 single-family lots
Item 10.2 · Zoning
Ken Garff rezone, 134 East 1200 South (continuance)
Continued · 5-0
At the applicant's request, the council continued the Ken Garff rezone of about 1.05 acres from R8 to C2 to the April 8 meeting. The minutes' roll-call text and vote table also list Chris Killpack as voting yes although the attendance section records him absent; counted here as 5 present members (needs human check).
What residents said
Short-term rental caps and limitsUtility rate increases1600 North corridor
Five speakers on short-term rentals, including hosts and a real estate broker, supported Airbnb-type rentals for visiting families and local business, asked that existing hosts be grandfathered, and objected to the draft ordinance's 100-rental citywide cap, 1,000-foot spacing, 182-night limit, eight-person occupancy limit and limits on multiple rentals per owner. One host representing 35 hosts offered to work with the city on enforceable rules.