Neighborhood Districts

Neighborhood District 5 Meeting Minutes - September 4, 2024 Conducting: Vice Chair Daniel Friend. Board Members in Attendance: Erik Davis, David Harding, Shannon Bingham, Daniel Friend, Quinn Peterson, Laura Leavitt, Leo Lines (Zoom), Jason Ream, (Sariah Hillam excused). City Councilors in Attendance: Becky Bogdin, Travis Hoban (Zoom), Rachel Whipple, Katrice MacKay. Total Attendance: 55 (49 in person, 6 on Zoom) 1. Planning Items A. Development Services request an Ordinance Text Amendment to Section 14.38.105 (Signs Permitted in the Downtown Zones) to add regulations for marquee signs in the Downtown Neighborhood (PLOTA20240191). Presented by Planning Supervisor Aaron Ardmore: • The Planning Commission recommends approval to the City Council. • The City Council will decide on September 17th. • Worked with Downtown Provo Alliance on this ordinance. • Downtown businesses requested to bring back marquee signs. • Limit to 3 marquee signs per block face from 500 West to 200 East on Center St. • Limit marquee sign size to 100 square feet. • Marquee signs are not the same as the 3 x 3 blade signs. Comments, concerns, questions from residents: • Why does this go all the way to 200 East on Center Street? Ardmore: Historic section of Center Street goes to 200 East. • How does this affect landmark properties? Ardmore: All sign permits must be reviewed by me and Historic Preservation Planner Dustin Wright. • Will these signs go before the Landmarks Commission? Ardmore: No, signs usually don’t unless Dustin Wright has questions or concerns. • How do you decide which three businesses get signs? Ardmore: First come, first serve; will have a conversation if there’s an overwhelming demand. • How did you come up with three? Ardmore: Spacing, what’s on the block currently. • What if there’s three all together? Ardmore: It could go that way, no rule against it. Downtown Provo Alliance’s Quinn Peterson: The initial language was for one per block face, but there was a specific application for one business and there’s already one on that block face, so it would have to be two. If there’s a third business on that block that is interested or opens, so we said three because there are three on a specific block downtown that might be interested. We restricted it to three because on the board of directors is former City Councilor Gary Winterton who was on the Council when these restrictions were made. In the 1960s-1980s businesses made bigger and bigger signs. This ordinance has restrictions on the number, size, and lights so we could bring back historic signs in the historic district. • Which block? Peterson: Thread has an application, Angel Studios is interested, Fat Daddy’s already has one, so that would be the three; The other reason we filed is because we did just acquire this property here to build an art house cinema (former Roasted Artichoke property, currently an empty lot). We just closed on this property three weeks ago and we need a sign like this to be allowed. Since we already heard applications from Thread and Angel Studios, let’s just address it for all of Downtown. B. Jaxon Allred requests approval of a Zone Map Amendment from the R1.6 (One Family Residential) Zone to the LDR (Low Density Residential) Zone to add two additional townhomes to the back of an existing single-family lot at 577 East 400 South in the Maeser Neighborhood (PLRZ20240234). Presented by City Planner Mary Barnes: • Application is in the first round of reviews, concept plan will change before it goes to Planning Commission, but didn’t want to wait until the next District 5 meeting in November. • The current concept plan does not show enough parking, landscaping, and better access. Comments, concerns, questions from residents: • What does the Neighborhood Plan say for this plot? Barnes: Single family residential (in Provo City Code, townhomes are classified as single family attached residential). The property just to the north did a similar project with two detached homes at the back.  • Will there be a space of gathering? Barnes: Code requires open space. Concept plans show parking and the later project plan will show more detail. • Could they have bike parking? Barnes: We’ll look into it. The townhomes will have garages. • Will the primary access be 400 South or the alley? Barnes: This will be addressed with engineering. • I love it! • What’s the proposed time of this? I would love to see more of this. Barnes: The property owner purchased the property 3 years ago and is deciding to go LDR, it will go through City Council and whatever the outcome of that by end of October, mid-November, so probably by this time next year when this is all finished. • Concern about loss of green space, including trees. The one above has a bigger lot. Are there any guidelines on size? Barnes: There is a set buildable area, which is why they are asking for attached townhomes. They are still figuring it out and LDR code requires landscaping and open space. 2. Discussion Item Provo School District Assistant Superintendent Jarod Sites and Franklin Elementary Principal Jason Benson spoke about the safety concerns for students crossing at 300 South 500 West. They have added bus stops so those children can ride the bus to school during the construction along 300 South. Not many students are crossing at 300 South, and we don’t want to lose a crossing guard at that intersection, so once the construction is completed the children will again cross at 300 South 500 West. Schools, Community Councils, Police, and Traffic Managers review the Safe Walking Routes every year. Comments, concerns, questions from residents: • What about children who are scared to ride the bus? School: Please have parents reach out to the school to address this situation. • A lot of people cross at 400 South. Can the crosswalk be at 400 South? School: They’ll consider that as they meet about Safe Routes to School. • Can there be a center median installed? School: Will need to speak to UDOT traffic manager. • There used to be crosswalks at 200 South and 400 South, why did that change? School: We’ll take these into consideration. • Various residents spoke about UDOT being good to work with. • Can we add temporary flashing lights? Councilor Bogdin: There are certain rules we must follow through UDOT. If there’s a traffic signal, the school crossing must be at the light. We don’t have enough pedestrians crossing at 400 South for flashing lights. • Was that law changed recently because there used to be crosswalks at 200 South and 400 South? Neighborhood Coordinator Rachel Breen: Yes, this is a new law. • Are crossing guards provided by the city and paid? School: Yes. • Can we have our own crossing guards? School: We can’t speak to that. That’s up to the city. • Thank you for addressing our concerns. My child is riding the bus and it’s much safer. I’ve contacted UDOT and they were very nice to work with. They take away the crossing guard if not enough children cross. Safe Routes to School is to encourage children to walk, but taking the crossing guard away makes it so people will drive. School: Invites parents to their Safe Routes to School Community Council meetings. • What about safe ways for bikes to cross? No safe bike crossing for Franklin and Downtown. Need to promote bike safety. • Breen read a statement from Provo Police that there will be a crossing guard for the entire 2024/2025 school year, but not at this time during construction. Construction should be done by November 1st and the crosswalk will be back in place. There will be a later count of students crossing at 300 South 500 West. 3. Updates A. Provo School District Update by Provo School Board member Teri McCabe: “Cultivating Magic” theme and want to be a destination district, cell phone policy committee to help students pay attention in class (let your principal know if you want to be on that committee), view the strategic plan brochure draft on their website, company has been chosen for the boundary study for all schools (last time it was done was 2006), Amendment A to remove the earmark for income tax to pay for education only (this was started in 1931, Utah PTA is against, UEA is against it, McCabe is against it and is encouraging people to vote against it), Amendment B is to increase trust lands profit money from 4% to 5%, about $300,000 for the district (money that the state gets from public lands that the state of Utah owns goes to individual schools).  Comments, concerns, questions from residents: • Why would the State want Amendment A? McCabe: To balance the state budget. • What’s happening with Dixon? McCabe: Haven’t decided it, but possibly a CTE school (MTECH) or CAPS. Hoping to have BRT/UVX go down 500 West so students can attend classes at Dixon. • Heard Provo wants BRT down 500 West, but Orem doesn’t want it. McCabe: Don’t have information on that. • Armed guardians. McCabe: HB84 was passed to have armed guardians at every school. McCabe wants better security at schools rather than armed guardians. Armed guardians can’t be principals or teachers. Schools are given $500 for a gun and the gun must be on school property, but schools must fund armed guardians, with a cost of about $500 million for the entire state of Utah. • How do we remove armed guardians from HB84? McCabe: Talk to your state legislators, create petitions. • What is happening with Dixon now? McCabe: Adult education classes, Boys & Girls Club. B. Update on Fresh Market matching grant project – need volunteers to help spread mulch on Saturday, September 7th at 9 AM and to spread bark on Saturday, September 14th at 9 AM. The City Forester got us a grant for plants which will be planted by professionals next week. C. Update on Pedestrian Safety Improvements to 500 North and 800 North – Engineering received CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) for improvements to happened to 500 North 400 East. Safety improvements were made to 800 North from 700 East to University Avenue. Public Works is working with BYU to improve the intersection at 800 North 500 East. Comments, concerns, questions from residents: • The lighting on the new streetlamps is great, but one is missing from the duck pond. (Provo City Traffic Manager Vern Keeslar has been notified.) • BYU is doing an education campaign for students to look up from their phone while crossing streets. • Request for student-activated stop lights. 4. Matching Grant discussion – Mark Petersen spoke about wanting chess tables at Pioneer Park. Parks says it’s not needed, and the park is too busy. Residents discussed the chess tables, the matching grant process, and how to count service hours. Residents are interested. (Mark Petersen has been emailed a matching grant application.) 5. Election of Neighborhood District 5 Secretary – Residents elected David Harding. 6. Public Comment • Julie McLaughlin (Joaquin) wants a traffic study done on 800 East between Center Street and 150 North (especially southbound). (This request has been forwarded to Provo City Traffic Manager Vern Keeslar.) • Mabel and associate (Joaquin) want oak trees at Joaquin Park. • Susan Krueger-Barber wants the trees dedicated to Kurt Peterson; former Joaquin Neighborhood Chair responsible for the park. • Councilor Bogdin suggested they talk to Chaz Addis and Hannah Salzl regarding trees. • Resident asked about shade sails. (NOTE: We’ve talked to Parks about shade sails, and they cost $80,000- $100,000.) • Resident suggested asking for donations for the plaque for Kurt Peterson. • Resident said that Franklin Park also needs trees. • Resident talked about high-rise apartment buildings by the train station, wants to have green space in Downtown, calls it a “child desert” because there’s no playgrounds or green space. • Krueger-Barber asked about pocket parks. • Daniel Friend spoke about his experience working with Parks to create pocket parks. • Resident asked about old City Hall lot. • Nadia Cates (Joaquin) spoke about the decision to not put a bathroom at Memorial Park. Wants Memorial Park to be a memorial to community members, children who have been victims of pedestrian accidents, Kurt Peterson, etc. with possibly being an arboretum. She wants to organize a committee. • Breen talked about applying to be on the Neighborhood District Board and the responsibilities of the board members. 7. Adjournment