CITY OF OREM
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
January 22, 2002
5:00 P.M. STUDY SESSION
CONDUCTING Mayor Jerry C. Washburn
ELECTED OFFICIALS Councilmembers Judy Bell, Les Campbell, Dean Dickerson, Karen A. McCandless, Stephen E. Sandstrom, and Shiree Thurston.
APPOINTED STAFF Jim Reams, City Manager; Paul Johnson, City Attorney; Mike Larsen, Public Safety Director; Stanford Sainsbury, Director of Development Services; Donna Weaver, City Recorder; and Gina Peterson, Deputy Recorder.
CITY COUNCIL NEW BUSINESS
Mayor Washburn indicated the town meeting minutes would be included with the January 29, 2002, City Council agenda. He also stated the ordinance creating the Heritage Commission would be presented at the meeting on February 5, 2002.
CITY MANAGER INFORMATION ITEMS
City Manager Jim Reams briefly reviewed the 800 South Road Plan.
REVIEW OF AGENDA ITEMS
The Council and staff reviewed the agenda items and adjourned at 5:55 p.m. to the City Council Chambers for the regular meeting.
6:00 P.M. REGULAR SESSION
CONDUCTING Mayor Jerry C. Washburn
ELECTED OFFICIALS Councilmembers Judy Bell, Les Campbell, Dean Dickerson, Karen A. McCandless, Stephen E. Sandstrom, and Shiree Thurston.
APPOINTED STAFF Jim Reams, City Manager; Paul Johnson, City Attorney; Mike Larsen, Public Safety Director; Stanford Sainsbury, Director of Development Services; Ben Thompson, City Planner; Donna Weaver, City Recorder; and Gina Peterson, Deputy City Recorder.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Joshua Ortina
INVOCATION Jeff Ortina
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
City Council Meeting of January 8, 2002
Mr. Campbell moved to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2002, meeting of the Orem City Council as presented. Mrs. McCandless seconded the motion. Those voting aye: Mrs. Bell, Mr.Campbell, Mr. Dickerson, Mrs. McCandless, Mr. Sandstrom, Mrs. Thurston, and Mr. Washburn. The motion passed unanimously.
MAYOR’S REPORT/ITEMS REFERRED BY COUNCIL
Upcoming Events
The Mayor referred the Council to the upcoming events listed in the agenda packet. He invited those present to welcome the Olympic torch on February 6, 2002, at 6:15 a.m.
Appointments to Boards and Commissions
Mayor Washburn recommended Scott Wells and Joanie Quilter be appointed to the Recreation Advisory Commission.
Mrs. Bell moved to ratify the appointments to boards and commissions as presented. Mrs.McCandless seconded the motion. Those voting aye: Mrs. Bell, Mr. Campbell, Mr.Dickerson, Mrs. McCandless, Mr. Sandstrom, Mrs. Thurston, and Mr. Washburn. The motion passed unanimously.
Youth City Council
Youth City Council member MacLane Heward gave a brief report on the Youth City Council activities. The Youth Council has been involved in making sure the Olympic flags hang correctly. They will also be attending the Local Officials Day at the Legislature.
Walter C. Orem Award – Brent Sumner
Brent Sumner has been a lifelong resident of Orem and has been in the weekly newspaper business all of his life. His father, Harold B. Sumner purchased the Orem-Geneva Times in 1953 and the business has been part of the Sumner life for over 49 years.
Brent is an active member of the community, serving 18 years on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and serving on several Chamber committees. He is a member of the Sertoma Club, Kiwanis Club, Commissioner of Orem Youth Baseball and is also currently a member of the Orem Recreation Committee and Orem Community Hospital Outreach Council.
The Mayor and City Council presented Brent Sumner with the Walter C. Orem Award.
Proclamation – Steel Industry
Mr. Terry Hansen, President of the local Steel Workers Union, explained the difficult situation facing the United States steel industry with foreign countries selling government subsidized steel at a cheaper rate than steel produced in the Unites States. Existing laws regarding steel dumping are neither enforced nor strict enough in this country, and thus have forced twenty-six U.S. Steel makers to file for bankruptcy protection, resulting in the loss of thousands of steelworker jobs. Locally, over 265 families have been laid off at Geneva Steel.
Mayor Washburn read an official proclamation supporting those in the American steel industry, especially in Utah Valley, and recognizing the urgency of acting quickly with measures placing the American steel industry on a level playing field with foreign steel producers.
Mr. Campbell moved to approve the proclamation in support of the steel industry. Mr. Sandstrom seconded the motion. Those voting aye: Mrs. Bell, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Dickerson, Mrs.McCandless, Mr. Sandstrom, Mrs. Thurston, and Mr. Washburn. The motion passed unanimously.
CITY MANAGER’S APPOINTMENTS
City Manager Jim Reams recommended Terry Judd and Brent Atkins be reappointed to the Board of Building and Fire Code Appeals. Mr. Judd is a professional architect, and Mr. Atkins is a master electrician.
Mr. Campbell moved to support the reappointments of Terry Judd and Brent Atkins to the Board of Building and Fire Code Appeals. Mrs. McCandless seconded the motion. Those voting aye: Mrs.Bell, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Dickerson, Mrs. McCandless, Mr. Sandstrom, Mrs. Thurston, and Mr.Washburn. The motion passed unanimously.
PERSONAL APPEARANCES
Time was allotted for the public to express their ideas, concerns, and comments on items not on the agenda.
Mr. Ben Jolley, reporter for BYU Newsnet, introduced himself to the City Council.
CONSENT ITEMS
Mrs. Bell moved to approve the following Consent Items. Mr. Sandstrom seconded the motion. Those voting aye: Mrs. Bell, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Dickerson, Mrs. McCandless, Mr. Sandstrom, Mrs.Thurston, and Mr. Washburn. The motion passed unanimously.
Ordinance – Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Sections 22-6-9 and 22-15-4 – Create Development Standards for Private Schools in Residential Zones, and Add Parking Requirements for all School Uses.
ORDINANCE – Amending Section 7-1-1 of the Orem City Code Adopting the Current International Building Code.
ORDINANCE – Amending Section 7-1-2 of the Orem City Code Adopting the Current International Mechanical Code.
ORDINANCE – Amending Section 7-1-7 of the Orem City Code Adopting the Current International Energy Conservation Code.
ORDINANCE – Amending Section 7-1-8 of the Orem City Code Adopting the Current International Fuel Gas Code.
ORDINANCE – Amending Section 7-1-9 of the Orem City Code Adopting the Current International Residential Code.
RESOLUTION - Declare Property Surplus and Authorize the City Manager to Dispose of Surplus Properties - Approximately 590 East 800 South and 766 East 800 South.
SCHEDULED ITEMS
MOTION – Report of the Ad-hoc Committee on Sandhill Road
City Planner Ben Thomson reviewed the history of the Sandhill Road Ad-hoc Committee. On August 14, 2001, the Orem City Council imposed a six-month development moratorium on the Sandhill Road area and called for the creation of a citizen’s ad-hoc committee to recommend a long-term plan for the development of Sandhill Road. The committee was formed consisting of four area residents, the two major vacant property owners, one Planning Commissioner, one City Council representative, and one representative to a previous ad-hoc committee on student housing.
Mr. Thomson introduced the members of ad-hoc committee as follows:
Marion Baxter
Molly Dayton
Rich Melville
Cindy Van Wagonen
Chris Jeppsen
Ro Mell Peterson
City Councilmember Bill Peperone
Planning Commissioner Garr Judd
Bill Fairbanks from the ad-hoc committee on Student Housing (not present)
The committee met for three months and agreed unanimously on a prioritized list of goals and concerns regarding the development of the Sandhill Road area. The concerns centered on a primary point of traffic related issues, with a second concern revolving around student housing. While unanimity was achieved in establishing the goals and concerns for the area, the committee split on the manner in which those goals would be best addressed. Mr. Thomson stated the committee is therefore submitting three proposals, each addressing the same list of goals and concerns, each of which draws its own conclusions. Ultimately the development of Sandhill Road comes down to the balancing of competing values. Each proposal makes its argument as to what is best for the area and for the city, and leaves it to the Council to decide the value of each tradeoff made.
Mr. Thomson gave a background of the information provided to the committee with regard to student housing. Student housing can be a difficult issue. Historically Orem City has taken a stand that the market is allowed to determine what types of housing are appropriate. A large section of the city has attached housing and is even specified as reserved for student housing complexes. One-third of all residential housing units in Orem are attached units. The ratio of students to residents continues to grow, and student enrollment is reaching thirty percent of the population. With the student population increasing, traffic problems around the campus are growing faster than traffic problems in other areas of the city.
Traffic Engineer Chris Tschirki addressed traffic concerns in the UVSC area. He noted most of the student housing overlay has been right next to the UVSC campus. Traffic will always become an issue where high-density areas are concentrated. The Transportation Master Plan Committee is evaluating transportation issues within the city including the intersections of Sandhill Road and 400 West at University Parkway. Sandhill Road was recently reclassified from a collector to a minor arterial due to increased volume over the past ten years from approximately 4,000 cars per day to the current 18,000 cars per day. The operating level of service at these intersections will only degrade and get worse over time. This area has grown significantly with respect to traffic volume.
Mayor Washburn acknowledged current traffic conditions at the intersections of Sandhill Road and 400 West at University Parkway are not satisfactory in most cases, yet he asked how future concerns could be mitigated if growth on Sandhill Road continues.
Mrs. Thurston suggested the installation of left-turn arrows at traffic lights. Mr. Tschirki indicated that UDOT would complete an independent traffic study to determine the types of signals warranted at intersections on State roads.
Mr. Sandstrom stated this area has existing traffic problems that are not going to be improved no matter what the City does. He feels the Council needs to deal with the land use and not just the traffic issues.
Mayor Washburn turned time to the residents from the Sandhill Ad-hoc Committee for the first proposal.
Residents Marion Baxter, Molly Dayton, Rich Melville, and Cindy Van Wagonen expressed their views and desires. They indicated the entire ad-hoc committee did agree on the following goals:
1) Safety and Design of Sandhill Road
a. Volume
b. Speed (25 mph)
c. Pedestrians
d. Appearance
e. Access
2) Enhance and Maintain Existing Residential (Wildwood)
a. Add new single-family residences
b. Add indirect access to the north and east
c. The vacant properties to the south of 1600 South Street should be zoned R8
d. Church and school capacities
e. Protect from student housing infiltration and encroachment
f. Develop community park
g. Quality of live
3) East Side (undeveloped properties)
a. Aesthetics
b. Bulk/Building size
c. Noise
d. Transience/Lack of Vested Interest
e. Light Pollution
f. View
g. Open Space
h. Impervious Coverage
i. Long-term Viability
j. Access
4) West Side (undeveloped properties)
a. Aesthetics
b. Bulk/Building size
c. Noise
d. Transience/Lack of Vested Interest
e. Light Pollution
f. View
g. Open Space
h. Impervious Coverage
i. Long-term Viability
j. Access
5) East Side (developed properties adjacent to Sandhill Road)
a. Aesthetics
b. Bulk/Building size
c. Noise
d. Transience/Lack of Vested Interest
e. Light Pollution
f. View
g. Open Space
h. Impervious Coverage
i. Long-term Viability
j. Access
k. Encourage redevelopment
l. Limit and eliminate accesses between 1430 South and 1600 South
In summary, the first proposal indicates that current traffic constraints severely limit the amount of development that can be accommodated in the area. It states the best way to preserve and revitalize the primarily single-family residential area is to reinforce the image with more single-family developments, using medium density residential units to transition from the higher intensity developments to the north. It is not proposed that any property lose value over what it has, and that almost every property will enjoy a significant increase in development potential.
The final recommendation of the first proposal does not directly concern the development of the area, but the process. Design criteria make the difference between good development and bad development. The first proposal recommends, after the Council has decided on the long-range plan for the area, that the ad-hoc committee reconvene to propose design recommendations that are appropriate for the area in harmony with the adopted plan.
Mayor Washburn invited the presentation of the second proposal.
Mr. Zane Morris addressed the Council representing the Ro Mell Peterson family. He outlined a traffic study completed by Horrocks Engineers.
As a summary, the second proposal suggests the current traffic situation will be exacerbated if the area is developed primarily with single-family residential uses. The city would best be served by building student housing on the Peterson property in proximity to campus by actually making the citywide traffic problem better and helping protect residential neighborhoods surrounding campus.
Mayor Washburn requested the Council be provided with the net difference between the traffic calculations of the first and second proposals. He then turned time to those presenting the third proposal.
Mr. Glen Arnell, representing property owner Chris Jeppsen, addressed the Council. He indicated the ad-hoc committee has never come to consensus on how the property be developed. There is a third proposal because the Jeppsen property was not addressed in either the first or second proposals. The third proposal indicates the way to maintain the single-family nature of the east side of Sandhill Road is to develop student housing and light commercial on the west side, including property owned by Mr. Jeppsen and Mr. Peterson.
The Council thanked members of the ad-hoc committee for their time and efforts. Mrs. Bell indicated the Council is not in a position to make a decision and further work sessions will most likely be held.
City Attorney Paul Johnson stated the moratorium would expire on its own after the six-month time period has passed. At that point, individuals are free to make application under the current zoning.
The Council discussed a time to review the issue further, and it was determined a work session would be held following the public hearing on January 29, 2002. Mayor Washburn noted this meeting would be a public meeting for City Council discussion and not a public hearing.