Orem council unanimously opposes Vesper Amphitheater and adopts new code enforcement and parking rules
September 8, 2026, 3:30 p.m. · 56 North State Street, Orem (work session in Council Conference Room; regular session at 6:00 p.m.)
The council voted 6-0 (the mayor also voting yes) to adopt a resolution opposing the proposed Vesper Amphitheater in Provo Canyon and to adopt amendments to its code enforcement and parking rules, including one covered inoperable vehicle per driveway and a ban on living in vehicles on residential lots. In the work session, members reached consensus on most detached ADU standards before the state's Oct. 1 deadline, heard a plan to move dispatch to Central Dispatch by Feb. 10, 2027, and began outlining an owner-occupied short-term rental framework.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item WS · City code
Detached ADU ordinance: size, setback and height consensus
Discussed
Planning Director Jared Hall said about 5,800 of roughly 20,300 residential parcels meet the 11,000-square-foot state threshold, and a 400-lot sample found 47 percent could host a detached ADU under the proposed setbacks (43.5 percent excluding vacant lots). The council agreed on one ADU per lot, owner occupancy backed by a recorded affidavit, and a rule that breezeways cannot turn a detached unit into an addition. Side setbacks of 10 feet and a 20-foot distance from a neighbor's house were set. Council Members LaNae Millett and Crystal Muhlestein favored keeping the underlying zone's rear setback (typically 25 feet in R8) instead of a flat 20 feet. Size caps are 650 square feet on 11,000-13,000 square foot lots, 850 up to 16,000 and 1,200 up to 20,000, with no more than 50 percent of the main home's above-grade footprint. Heights start at 14 feet pitched or 12 feet flat and rise one foot for each foot of added setback, to 18 and 14 feet, never above the main house; units are single-story with lofts limited to 20 percent. A public hearing was targeted for Sept. 22.
Item WS · Public safety
Central Dispatch resolution: move Orem and Lindon dispatch from Provo to Central Dispatch
Discussed
Deputy City Manager Keri Rugg and Deputy City Attorney D. Jacob Summers presented a resolution to move dispatch from Provo's Metro Dispatch to Utah County's Central Dispatch. They said Provo declined to form the shared-governance interlocal agency contemplated in 2022, and a state rule bars Orem from regaining its own dispatch center. Orem would hold seats on the administrative and operations boards, with the right to call a weighted vote by population and call volume, and staff expect about $500,000 in net annual savings after a first-year buy-in cost the city prefers to pay in full. A 12-month notice went to Provo at the end of July; Provo asked for an earlier exit and Central Dispatch is targeting a Feb. 10, 2027 cutover. Orem negotiated an additional fire channel.
- FeeAmount not given to Utah County Central Dispatch
Item WS · City code
Short-term rental framework: owner-occupied baseline
Discussed
Deputy City Attorney Summers laid out waypoints for an owner-occupied short-term rental license: stays of 24 hours to 30 days; at least 50 percent ownership and primary-residence proof; an affidavit that the owner lives there at least 10 months (304 days) a year; the owner present overnight during stays; a 24/7 local contact able to respond within 20 minutes; no events or parties; a license that expires on sale or transfer; license numbers on listings; and fines of $750 for a first violation and $1,000 after, the state maximum. Members debated revocation after two versus three strikes in 12 months. Council Member Millett urged enforcing the existing ban to return up to 500 units to long-term housing; Council Member Crystal Muhlestein shared concerns about housing being converted to investments; Council Member Quinn Mecham said owner-occupied rentals can help owners afford a mortgage. Density caps, quiet hours, parking and occupancy limits remain for a later session.
Item 3.1 · Presentation
Central Utah Water Conservancy District recognition
Discussed
The city presented a certificate of appreciation to Central Utah Water Conservancy District leaders for nearly five decades of partnership, including a water treatment plant and storage tanks, a 7,500 acre-foot water contract, pipelines, rebates and a land arrangement that enabled Phase 3 of the Bike Skills Park.
Item 3.2 · Presentation
Building a Better Orem employee awards
Discussed
The city presented its annual employee awards, including Employee of the Year, which went to Trevor Bell of Finance.
Item 3.3 · Presentation
Constitution Month events
Discussed
Civic Engagement Director Peter Wolfley outlined Constitution Month events, including an American Legion flag ceremony at the Sept. 22 council meeting and an art contest open through Sept. 30.
Item 3.4 · Parks
Library Advisory Commission annual report
Discussed
The commission and staff reported the library handles 1.3 million items a year, has added $225,000 to its collection budget compared with four years ago without increasing its draw on the general fund, and has reduced fines and fees.
Item 3.5 · Parks
Summer reading wrap-up
Discussed
The library reported 1,909 young readers logged 1,374,845 minutes in the 'Unearth a Story' program, with over 1,100 prizes awarded and more than 30 programs. Next year's theme is 'Mysteries Await at Your Library.'
Item 3.6 · Presentation
Neighborhood Advisory Commission report and beautification awards
Discussed
The commission gave its 2026 front-yard beautification awards to eight winners from 31 nominated properties and reported on its input on short-term rental rules, the My Hometown revitalization initiative and the MyOrem billing platform.
Item 4 · City code
Consent: reappointment and appointments, rental dwelling license exemption ordinance
Approved · 6-0
The council approved on consent the reappointment of Mike Whimpey to the Public Works Advisory Commission, appointments of Linda Coy to the Recreation Advisory Commission and Norman Fobert to the Transportation Advisory Commission, and an ordinance amending rental dwelling license rules so owners who house a relative without rent can file an affidavit and avoid the license fee under new state law.
Item 6.1 · City code
Public hearing: neighborhood improvement and parking code amendments
Approved · 6-0
The council adopted a package of amendments to Orem's code enforcement and parking rules, as previewed on May 26. One unregistered or inoperable vehicle may be kept in a driveway if covered and free of flat tires, jack stands or visible body damage; front-yard parking is limited to paved driveways or qualifying parking strips (at least a four-inch gravel base); RVs, camper trailers and 'any other vehicle' may not be used for habitation on residential lots; auto businesses must park inventory on their sites and not on public streets; vehicles may not be left in city parks after curfew; trailers, campers and boats may not be stored on streets; street-parked vehicles must move at least 200 feet every 72 hours; vegetation blocking traffic control devices may be removed with an appeal hearing; and fines rise progressively for nuisances not abated. Four speakers addressed it. Two opposed the ban on living in vehicles, saying it would harm people priced out of housing; others asked for broader enforcement against property neglect or a compassionate, case-by-case approach. Assistant City Attorney Aaron McKnight said living in trailers on residential lots was already prohibited and that officers use a warning matrix before fines. Council Member Quinn Mecham asked whether to delay the habitation section; staff said that would change nothing in practice, and the council voted on the whole package.
Item 6.2 · Other
Resolution opposing the proposed Vesper Amphitheater in Provo
Approved · 6-0
The council adopted a resolution opposing the proposed Vesper Amphitheater near the mouth of Provo Canyon in Provo, a venue described as about 20,000 seats on roughly 100 acres. The resolution acknowledges Provo's land-use authority and the developer's withdrawal of its first application, anticipates a revised proposal, cites sound, light, traffic and parking impacts on Mount Timpanogos Park, Palisade Park, nearby neighborhoods, SR-189 and 800 North, and calls for multi-agency regional planning for Provo Canyon. At the request of Council Members Crystal Muhlestein and LaNae Millett the text was amended to name those impacts. Council members said the canyon funnels sound into residential areas and roads cannot absorb concert traffic; Council Member Chris Killpack said an amphitheater is not inherently a bad idea but this location is unsuitable. Eight residents spoke in support. One speaker said residents had pledged $50,000 toward a conservation easement on the site. The council has no vote on projects inside Provo.
What residents said
Vesper Amphitheater traffic and noiseLiving in vehiclesCode enforcement fairnessDetached ADU setbacksShort-term rentalsImmigration enforcement
Early comment: Hayley Helsten and Allie Asay asked the council to bar immigration agents from city spaces and to reject civil detainers without a judge-signed warrant; Claudia Stokes spoke against a proposed local mosque. At the code hearing, Mark Allen and a speaker identified as Madison opposed the ban on living in vehicles; Beverly Kingsford asked for broader enforcement against property neglect; Claudia Stokes asked for a case-by-case approach. On the Vesper resolution, Caresa Cantrell, Kay Nelson, Joy Patton, Matt Peterson, Luke Hanson, Celeste Hanson, Mark Allen and Beverly Kingsford supported it, citing traffic on 800 North, noise, parking overflow and canyon protection; Elaine Parker asked for more measured wording.