Provo council votes 4-2 to drop the average-unit-size rule for downtown housing in work meeting
September 22, 2026, 1:30 p.m. · 445 W. Center Street, Provo
At its Sept. 22 work meeting the Provo council voted 4-2 to remove the 800-square-foot average dwelling unit requirement in downtown zones while keeping the 500-square-foot minimum; Chair MacKay and Councilor Bogdin opposed and Vice-Chair Christensen was excused. Staff presented sales tax distribution (about 39 percent of Provo's roughly $30 million in fiscal 2026 sales tax came from sales in Provo and 61 percent from the population share), the annual carryover of unspent budget items, a rezone on Geneva Road for Lakeview Fields, a Riverbottoms rezone, a condemned-building ordinance and Provo River Design Corridor changes. The council closed the meeting 5-0 to discuss an individual's character and competency and security deployment.
From the draft minutes. Updated October 31, 2026.
In brief
8 items came up for a decision or discussion: 8 discussed.
1 vote was not unanimous: Ordinance amending downtown standards and regulations (26-071) (4-2).
3 items here are tracked in the city's development tracker.
This write-up links 3 source documents.
7 members were present and 1 absent (Council Vice-Chair Craig Christensen).
The previous City Council work session meeting was on September 22, 2026: Council approves two rezones, FY2026 budget carryovers and year-round holiday lighting, all 6-0
The next one was on October 1, 2026: Provo council and school board discuss e-bike safety, the new Dixon Elementary and tax-increase notice at joint meeting
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Other
Community Action Services and Food Bank presentation
Discussed
Chief Impact Officer Jessica Miller presented the 2025 Community Needs Assessment: housing, the income gap and food insecurity were the top needs. The organization served 8,875 unduplicated Provo residents in the prior year, and 98 percent of those households received a service beyond food. She said need was rising faster than donations.
Item 2 · Budget
Presentation on how local option sales tax is distributed
Discussed
Budget Officer Kelsey Zarbock explained that $0.50 of each $1.00 of local sales tax stays with the point-of-sale city and $0.50 goes to a statewide pool redistributed by population, leaving about $0.5165 in Provo. Of about $30 million in fiscal 2026 sales tax, about 39 percent came from point-of-sale activity in Provo and 61 percent from the population allocation.
Item 3 · Budget
Resolution carrying over unspent fiscal 2026 budget items to fiscal 2027 (26-001)
Discussed
Staff described the annual carryover of unspent and encumbered items departments asked to finish in the year ending June 30, 2027. Councilors had no questions, and staff said it would return for formal action at the evening meeting.
Item 4 · City code
Ordinance amending downtown standards and regulations (26-071)
Discussed · 4-2
Policy Analyst Tanner Taguchi presented changes on building height, average dwelling unit size, amenity space, A-frame signs and sidewalk cafes. Councilors split on keeping owner-occupancy incentives and on whether smaller units help or hurt long-term housing quality. The council voted 4-2 to remove the average unit size requirement and keep the 500-square-foot minimum; no formal direction was reached on the other items, pending review with Parks and Recreation staff.
Item 5 · Zoning
Rezone at 1878 North Geneva Road from One-Family Residential (R1.20) to Specific Development Plan - Lakeview Fields (SDP4) (PLRZ20260298)
Discussed
Planner Dustin Wright presented the rezone. Councilors had reviewed the packet and had no questions.
Item 6 · Zoning
Rezone at 3998 North 300 West from R1.10 to R1.8, Riverbottoms Neighborhood (PLRZ20260387)
Discussed
Planner Jessica Dahneke presented a residential-to-residential rezone. Councilors had reviewed the packet and had no questions.
Item 7 · City code
Ordinance amending Provo City Code 7.01.050 on condemned buildings (26-069)
Discussed
Officer Brandon Hutchinson proposed making it unlawful to remain in, or let others remain in, a condemned building, with exceptions for authorized repair work. He said trespass law does not apply when an owner gives permission. Councilors raised property rights and the effect on vulnerable people.
Item 8 · City code
Ordinance adding the Provo River Design Corridor, Code 14.34.290 (PLOTA20260371)
Discussed
The council backed allowing lawn in low-use nodes and gathering lawns in high-use areas without a fixed cap, banning artificial turf, clearer tree-removal language, dark-sky lighting language and trail connections. It supported a high-use node overlay requiring council approval for some development within 100 feet of the river, which would go through Planning Commission review and the zoning rewrite.
What residents said
The minutes record no public comment.