Orem meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Orem to hear proposed property tax increase at Aug. 27 hearing

Orem residents will have a chance to weigh in on a proposed property tax increase at a City Council public hearing Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. The increase would raise $450,000 in additional annual revenue, a 6.95% increase over last year's budgeted property tax revenue excluding new growth. For a $520,000 residence, the annual tax would rise from $168.74 to $180.47; for a $520,000 business, from $306.80 to $328.12. No other items are on the agenda.

Recent meetings

All meetings held in the past two weeks were agenda-only, with minutes not yet published, so no decisions are recorded. The Aug. 11 City Council work session and regular meeting included discussion of detached accessory dwelling unit regulations, a presentation on the Community Development Code update, a resolution to appoint members to the Justice Court Nominating Commission, and a presentation on citizen life saving by Fire Chief Marc Sanderson. The council also added a work session to its meeting schedule.

The Aug. 12 Neighborhood Advisory Commission received updates from the Neighborhood Improvement Team and the myOrem app, discussed volunteer recruitment for the One Kind Act A Day program, and announced Beautification Award winners. The Aug. 13 Events Advisory Commission discussed logistics for Taste of Orem and Truck or Treat, including setup, entertainment, and volunteer support. The Aug. 17 Development Review Committee reviewed preliminary and final plats, LUMEN fiber installations, a police wall, and a bridge decking rehab. The Aug. 18 Cultural Arts Advisory Commission assigned duties for Taste of Orem and received reports from its Public Art Subcommittee and Art Ambassadors. The Aug. 18 Transportation Advisory Commission reviewed a draft travel master plan. The Aug. 19 Planning Commission meeting was cancelled; the next meeting is Sept. 2. The Aug. 20 Historical Preservation Advisory Commission discussed the city budget, a CARE grant, and historic pamphlets.

Coming up

• **Aug. 24, 11 a.m. — Development Review Committee** (56 N State St., Aspen Conference Room, 2nd floor): Review of a LUMEN site plan at 1528 N Main St., a site plan and plat amendment for Home Built at 1950 N State St., and approval of minutes from the Aug. 17 meeting.
• **Aug. 27, 6 p.m. — City Council public hearing** (City Hall Council Chambers): Truth-in-taxation hearing on the proposed property tax increase described above.
• **Sept. 2, 5:30 p.m. — Planning Commission** (City Council Chambers): Public hearing on a text amendment to Section 22-14-4-2 of the Orem City Code regarding alterations to legal non-conforming signs. The proposed amendment is available at the Office of Community Development.

Orem property tax hearing set for Aug. 27; recent meetings yield no decisions

Over the past two weeks, Orem's advisory boards and commissions met to discuss signs, housing definitions, recycling tours, and event planning, but no final decisions were made — all recent meetings were agenda-only with minutes not yet published. The most consequential item on the horizon is a public hearing on a proposed property tax increase scheduled for Aug. 27.

Recent meetings

Planning Commission (Aug. 5) — The commission held a public hearing on two text amendments: one to alter rules for non-conforming signs, and another to update definitions for dwellings, accessory dwelling units, and accessory apartments. No vote was taken; minutes are pending.

Natural Resources Stewardship Committee (Aug. 6) — The committee discussed strategic planning, selected a date for a tour of the WM Materials Recycling Facility, considered a potential tour of MCR Recycling, and discussed next steps for a tree initiative. The agenda also included approval of June meeting minutes.

City Council (Aug. 11) — The council held a work session and regular meeting. They discussed detached accessory dwelling unit regulations, received a presentation on the Community Development Code update, and considered a resolution to appoint members to the Justice Court Nominating Commission. A presentation on Citizen Life Saving by Fire Chief Marc Sanderson and an update to the council meeting schedule were also on the agenda.

Neighborhood Commission (Aug. 12) — The commission received updates from the Neighborhood Improvement Team and the myOrem app, discussed volunteer recruitment for the One Kind Act A Day program, and announced Beautification Award winners. The agenda was routine, with no major policy decisions or public hearings.

Events Advisory Commission (Aug. 13) — The commission discussed idea generation and logistics for the upcoming Taste of Orem and Truck or Treat events, including setup, entertainment, and volunteer support. It also reviewed minutes from July 9 and received city updates from council members Crystal Muhlestein and Jeff Lambson.

Upcoming meetings

City Council – Truth-in-Taxation Hearing (Aug. 27) — The council will hold a public hearing on a proposed property tax increase. If approved, the city would raise property tax revenue by $450,000 per year, a 6.95% increase over last year excluding new growth. For a $520,000 residence, the annual tax would rise from $168.74 to $180.47; for a $520,000 business, from $306.80 to $328.12. The hearing is at 6:00 PM in Orem City Hall Council Chambers.

Development Review Committee (Aug. 17) — The committee will review preliminary and final plats, administrative site plans for LUMEN fiber installations at 1042 W Center Street and 1528 N Main Street, a police wall at 56 N State Street, and a bridge decking rehab. It will also approve minutes from its July 27 meeting.

Transportation Advisory Commission (Aug. 18) — The commission will review the draft Orem Archive Travel Master Plan, receive project updates, and approve minutes. The next meeting is scheduled for September 15.

Planning Commission (Aug. 19) — This meeting has been cancelled. The next meeting is set for September 2.

Coming up

• **Aug. 17** – Development Review Committee (plats, fiber installs, police wall)
• **Aug. 18** – Transportation Advisory Commission (draft travel master plan)
• **Aug. 27** – City Council truth-in-taxation hearing on proposed property tax increase (6:00 PM, Orem City Hall Council Chambers)

All meetings are open to the public. Agendas and minutes are available on the city's official website.

Orem City Council considers Westerly Way rezone; land-use items fill recent agendas

The Orem City Council held a public hearing July 28 to consider rezoning the Westerly Way property from Open Space to Planned Residential Development, the most consequential land-use item on a busy two-week stretch of city meetings.

All five recent meetings listed below were agenda-only at the time of this report — minutes have not yet been published. That means items are described as scheduled or proposed on the agendas, not as final decisions. Vote tallies and outcomes are not available.

City Council — Westerly Way rezone hearing

On July 28 at 6:00 PM at 56 North State Street, the Council held a public hearing on a text amendment and rezone for the Westerly Way property. The proposed change would move the parcel from OS-5 (Open Space) to PRD (Planned Residential Development). The agenda also included an amendment to Appendix KK, titled "Site Plan - Farm Haven."

A rezone from open space to planned residential development would determine what can be built on the property and at what density. No vote tally is available because minutes have not been published.

Development Review Committee — plats, site plans, and code amendments

The DRC met twice in the past two weeks.

On July 20, the committee was scheduled to review a temporary site plan for Harward Farms Sweet Corn at approximately 777 N State (C2 zone) and a preliminary plat for Valor Homes at approximately 1301 W 400 South (M2 zone).

On July 27, the agenda listed several land-use items:

• Plat Amendment — Fort Knox at 981 N Industrial Park Road (M2 zone)
• Preliminary and Final Plat — Johnson Farms Plat A at 1700 S Geneva Road (C2 zone)
• Site Plan — The Shops at Johnson Farm at the same location
• Final Plat — Home Again Lane at 600 S 900 East (R8 zone)
• Sign Ordinance Text Amendment (Alamo Storage)
• DADU Definitions Text Amendment (multiple code sections)

The DADU amendment would update city code definitions for detached accessory dwelling units, which affects what homeowners can build on their properties.

Transportation Advisory Commission — Active Travel Master Plan

On July 21, the commission was scheduled to review the draft Orem Active Travel Master Plan, described on the agenda as a key policy document for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. The agenda also included election of a vice chair, approval of minutes from June 16, 2026, and project updates with no specific projects or funding amounts listed.

Cultural Arts Council — vice-chair vote and public art

Also on July 21, the Cultural Arts Advisory Committee was scheduled to vote on a new Vice-Chair, discuss an interactive children's project in the parks, hear a Performances Subcommittee Presentation by Nathan Christiansen, hold a feedback brainstorming series, and adopt minutes from June 16, 2026.

Coming up

Orem Planning Commission — Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at City of Orem Council Chambers, 56 North State Street. The commission will hold public hearings on two text amendments: one to Article 14-4-2 regarding non-conforming signs, and another updating definitions for dwellings, accessory dwelling units, and accessory apartments. Both items could change what property owners and businesses are allowed to do under city code.

Orem boards weigh zoning, housing, and infrastructure changes as summer meetings stack up

Orem residents have a packed stretch of local-government activity to track, with six meetings held since mid-July and three more scheduled in the next two weeks. Because minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent meetings, the items below reflect what was on each agenda — not confirmed outcomes. Residents should watch the city's official records for final decisions.

City Council: zoning and land-use hearings

The Orem City Council met July 14 to hold public hearings on two land-use matters. The first was a text amendment to the PD-53 Zone concept plan at 1890 North State Street. The second was a proposed zoning map change affecting 5.93 acres at 360 West 1500 South, moving from PF (Public Facilities) and R12 (Single-Family Residential) to R8 (Single-Family Residential). No vote tallies or decisions are available yet.

On July 28, the Council will hold a public hearing on the "Westerly Way" property, considering a rezone from OS-5 (Open Space) to PRD (Planned Residential Development), along with an amendment to Appendix KK "Site Plan - Farm Haven." That meeting is set for 6:00 PM at 56 North State Street.

Planning Commission: accessory dwelling units in focus

The Planning Commission met July 15 with a single item: a public hearing on a text amendment to Article 22-6 of the Orem City Code that would establish regulations for permitting detached accessory dwelling units on single-family properties.

The Commission meets again August 5 for two more public hearings — one on a text amendment to Article 14-4-2 regarding non-conforming signs, and another updating definitions for dwellings, accessory dwelling units, and accessory apartments. Both hearings will take place in the City of Orem Council Chambers at 56 North State Street.

Development Review Committee: site plans and plats

The DRC met twice, on July 13 and July 20. The July 13 agenda included an administrative site plan for Lumen Fiber installation at 1135 E 600 South, a preliminary plat and site plan for the PH Tennis Center at 92 E 800 North, a temporary site plan for Harward Farms Sweet Corn at 440 S State Street, and approval of June 29 minutes.

The July 20 agenda listed a temporary site plan for Harward Farms Sweet Corn at approximately 777 N State (C2 zone) and a preliminary plat for Valor Homes at approximately 1301 W 400 South (M2 zone).

On July 27, the DRC is set to consider a plat amendment for Fort Knox at 981 N Industrial Park Road (M2 zone), a preliminary and final plat for Johnson Farms Plat A at 1700 S Geneva Road (C2 zone), a site plan for The Shops at Johnson Farm at the same location, a final plat for Home Again Lane at 600 S 900 East (R8 zone), and two text amendments — one to the sign ordinance (Alamo Storage) and one updating definitions for detached accessory dwelling units.

Transportation Advisory Commission: Active Travel Master Plan

The Commission met July 21 to review the draft Orem Active Travel Master Plan, a policy document for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. The agenda also included election of a vice chair, approval of June 16 minutes, and project updates with no specific projects or funding amounts listed.

Cultural Arts Council: leadership and programming

The Cultural Arts Advisory Committee met July 21 to vote on a new Vice-Chair, discuss an interactive children's project in the parks, hear a performances subcommittee presentation by Nathan Christiansen, hold a feedback brainstorming series, and adopt June 16 minutes.

Coming up

• **July 27, 11:00 AM** — Development Review Committee, considering plats, site plans, and text amendments on signs and DADU definitions.
• **July 28, 6:00 PM** — City Council public hearing on the Westerly Way rezone, 56 North State Street.
• **August 5** — Planning Commission public hearings on non-conforming signs and dwelling/ADU definitions, City of Orem Council Chambers.