Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Provo City public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
37 issues in development
North Timpview Residential Growth
An appeal has been filed against the Planning Commission's approval of a 50-lot residential subdivision on Montana Avenue. The Board of Adjustment will evaluate whether the project properly meets the standards for a performance development and critical hillside overlay zone.
Proposed Riverbottoms Residential Development
An appeal has been filed against the Planning Commission's approval of a 50-lot residential subdivision on Montana Avenue. The Board of Adjustment will evaluate whether the project properly meets the standards for a performance development and critical hillside overlay zone.
Maeser Neighborhood Townhome Development
Neighbors raised concerns that new townhome developments on narrow streets like 2000 North will worsen parking shortages and create safety hazards for emergency vehicles.
Spring Creek Neighborhood Townhome and Warehouse Projects
A developer proposed rezoning a 0.34-acre parcel in the Spring Creek neighborhood from Residential Conservation to Medium Density Residential to build a seven-unit townhome project. Neighbors raised questions about single driveway access and parking.
West Provo Commercial Development
Economic development staff presented revenue projections for major incoming projects including the Epic Sports Park commercial area, Provo Town Center HTRZ redevelopment, and the proposed Vesper amphitheater, highlighting potential property tax windfalls for the city and school district.
Franklin Neighborhood Residential Infill and Condominium Development
A proposed zone change to allow a 19-unit condo project at 985 West 300 South was discussed, impacting local housing density and neighborhood character in the Franklin Neighborhood.
Tuscanel Townhomes Zone Change Update in Joaquin Neighborhood
An update was presented regarding the proposed Tuscanel Townhomes zone change at 313 East 200 North in the Joaquin Neighborhood.
Foothills Neighborhood Development
A developer wants to build a large 157-unit apartment complex in the Foothills area. This could significantly change the density and character of the neighborhood.
Student Housing and Parking Ratios at 910 North 900 East
A developer wants to replace old apartments with a new 157-unit student housing building, but proposes cutting parking in half. Neighbors and students voiced worries that fewer parking stalls will push student cars into surrounding residential streets, worsening existing parking shortages.
Lakeview Fields Subdivision Rezone
A proposal to rezone 5.06 acres from residential to an overlay district for a 16-lot subdivision was presented following Planning Commission recommendation.
Historic Snow House Adaptive Reuse and Restaurant Conversion
Zach Harris wants to turn the 1887 historic Snow House at 237 E Center Street into a restaurant, which requires adding parking, ADA ramps, and doing seismic upgrades while tearing down historic outbuildings. Commissioners want more detail on preserving historic touches like the cupola and fence before giving a final green light.
Auto Repair Shop Conditional Use Permit
An existing auto repair shop on W Columbia Lane applied for a conditional use permit to bring its operations into compliance with city zoning codes. The hearing officer approved the permit with conditions ensuring vehicles are stored indoors and parking is properly marked.
Historic Home Restoration and Balcony Addition
The Landmarks Commission considered a request to restore a historic home, including the addition of a balcony and porch. The key issue was ensuring the proposed work aligns with historic preservation standards while meeting modern building codes.
Historic Home Conversion at 237 E Center Street
A historic home in the Joaquin Neighborhood is proposed to be altered for use as a restaurant. The Landmarks Commission will evaluate whether the changes preserve the historic integrity of the property.
Neighborhood Traffic and Access
Residents expressed concerns about how new retail and storage developments might increase traffic and complicate access for neighbors.
Epic Sports Park Development
The board received an update on the Epic Sports Park project and general sports facility planning. This project impacts local athletic leagues and residents looking for expanded recreational spaces.
Emergency Home Repair Grant Program
Community development staff highlighted federal grant funding of up to $15,000 available for low-to-moderate-income seniors, disabled residents, and armed forces members needing emergency home repairs.
Hillside Development and Geologic Hazards
Residents are worried about building on steep slopes due to past landslides and wildfire risks. The developer has provided extensive geotechnical reports to prove the safety of the proposed construction.
Wymount Terrace Parking and Redevelopment
The proposed 157-unit student apartment building requests a reduced parking ratio of 0.5 stalls per bed, sparking intense debate among commissioners and residents about whether this will worsen street parking congestion in surrounding neighborhoods.
Commercial Zone Security
Business owners are looking for ways to improve safety and cleanliness on their properties by allowing an employee to live on-site. This is intended to help reduce issues like trespassing and illegal dumping.
Conservation Easements
The city is moving forward with a conservation easement on 150 acres of city-owned land around Slate Canyon to protect it from private development in perpetuity while allowing future park and public works uses.
North Timpview Entertainment Development
A massive 100-acre project is proposed for the North Timpview area. It could bring new entertainment and hospitality options, but neighbors will likely have questions about traffic and the change from open space to commercial use.
Edgemont Seminary Redevelopment
A proposal to replace an existing seminary building is under review. Neighbors may want to consider how the new construction will fit into the existing neighborhood landscape.
Accessory Building Size Limits
The city is considering allowing an accessory building that is larger than the main house. This is being weighed against the benefit of consolidating lots to prevent future development on unstable ground.
Transit-Oriented Development
Provo's jumping on the transit-oriented development trend with a massive new project near public transport. The goal is to create more walkable areas and cut down on how much we rely on cars.
Data Center Development in East Bay
Staff proposed updates to the data center overlay code that would ban on-site power generation (effectively capping facilities at 50 megawatts), mandate closed-loop water cooling, and remove third-party environmental review requirements.
Workforce Housing Development
Remember that rundown Park Plaza apartment building? It's been bought by a developer, and they're planning to fix it up! This could mean more housing options for Provo residents soon.
Data Center Environmental Standards
The city is looking to tighten rules on data centers to save water and reduce air pollution. This could make it harder for some companies to build here, but it aims to protect local resources.
Rental Housing Standards
With over half the central district living in rentals, a code enforcement officer shared crucial tips for tenants and landlords. The city inspects for minimum health and safety standards, but cannot help tenants break leases.
Mall Redevelopment and ITOD Zoning
Developers Brixton and Peg are proposing major residential and commercial redevelopment at the Provo Towne Centre Mall, which recently received mixed recommendations from the Planning Commission.
Housing Stock Audit
The Council wants better data on the city's housing to understand why certain types of homes aren't being built or financed, helping them make better decisions on housing policy.
Missionary Training Center Redevelopment
The MTC is modernizing its campus by replacing 1970s-era buildings with new, more efficient facilities. The project aims to improve site aesthetics through added landscaping while maintaining necessary operational capacity.
Commercial-to-Residential Conversion
The city is allowing the conversion of an existing office building into apartments to increase housing density in a shopping center zone.
Mixed-Use Residential Conversion on University Parkway
An existing dental office building is being remodeled to add eight apartments, utilizing surplus parking on the site.
Commercial and Indoor Storage Development on North 100 East
A vacant parcel is being developed into retail spaces and a two-story indoor storage facility with shared access.
Lakewood Neighborhood Commercial Growth
A new mixed-use development is proposed for the Lakewood area, which would bring a hotel and retail shops to a currently agricultural site.
Campus Residential Rezone at 71 West 880 North
An applicant is requesting a zone change near the BYU campus to replace an older single-family home with a new five-unit apartment building, matching neighboring campus-area zoning.