Provo · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Provo City public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
Maeser Neighborhood Townhome Development
Neighbors pushed back against a proposed seven-unit three-story townhome development on 1060 South, pointing out that narrow streets and tall buildings threaten neighborhood character and parking availability.
Spring Creek Neighborhood Townhome and Warehouse Projects
Spring Creek is facing two distinct proposals: a seven-unit townhome development and a new flex warehouse in an industrial commercial zone.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lakeview Fields Subdivision Rezone
A 5-acre property on Geneva Road was rezoned to allow a 16-lot single-family subdivision, aligning with the city's general plan and neighboring developments.
Auto Repair Shop Conditional Use Permit
An existing auto repair shop applied for a conditional use permit to officially come into compliance with city zoning rules. The hearing officer approved the permit with conditions to ensure proper parking and that all repair work stays indoors.
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.
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.
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.
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
Provo is considering applying for an $8 million federal grant to expand the Epic Regional Sports Park with five new fields, parking, and restrooms. Councilors support the park's economic success but are cautious about committing $4 million in local matching funds without knowing what other capital projects might be delayed.
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
Provo is partnering with Utah Open Lands to protect 115 acres of city-owned land in Slate Canyon with a conservation easement. This ensures the land remains open space and recreation-focused for future generations while preventing any future sale of the property.
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.
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 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.
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.
Mall Redevelopment and ITOD Zoning
Planning staff updated residents on the mall redevelopment project. The Planning Commission recommended approval for general plan and rezone changes to ITOD, while recommending that the Shady Acres mobile home park portion use a different residential zone.
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.
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.
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.
Mixed-Use Residential Conversion on University Parkway
A dental office building is adding eight apartments to its upper and basement floors, bringing more housing options into a commercial shopping center zone without needing extra parking.
Commercial and Indoor Storage Development on North 100 East
A long-vacant lot in the Riverside neighborhood will be developed into retail space and an indoor storage facility, matching the style of existing shopping centers nearby.
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.
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.