Neighborhood Districts

Neighborhood District 2 Meeting minutes Conducted by: McKay Jensen. Board Members in Attendance: James Hall, Mitzi Colins, Laura Marre, McKay Jensen, Laura Harper, Ruth Eldredge Thomas, Angie M. Carter, Katherine Hall, Tana R. Hoover, Ashley Rayback, Kevin Cook. Provo City Councilors in Attendance: Katrice MacKay, Rachel Whipple, Gary Garrett, George Handley. Attendees: 59 in person, 10 on Zoom, for a total of 69 meeting attendees. Introduction of New Neighborhood District Board Members Oak Hills - James Hall James Hall introduced himself as a new member of the Oak Hills neighborhood. He stated that he had lived in Oak Hills for six to seven years and had previously been involved with the Design Review Committee. He expressed excitement about serving on the District 2 Neighborhood Board and mentioned having children who attend Wasatch Elementary School, emphasizing his concern for street safety and community mobility. Wasatch - Laura Marre Laura Marre introduced herself as a new member representing the Wasatch Neighborhood. She shared that she had been living in Provo for nearly ten years and was raising four children in the community. Marre expressed enthusiasm for being part of the program and appreciation for the various volunteer opportunities and community connections available in Provo. She stated her hope to learn and represent the voice of her neighborhood effectively. Provost - Angie M. Carter Angie Carter introduced herself as a new member representing the Provost Neighborhood. She mentioned living in the Provo neighborhood for approximately 33 years and expressed excitement about helping develop the area, particularly focusing on park development. Provost South - Tana R. Hoover Tana introduced herself as a representative from Provost South, stating that she had lived in the area for about five years and was excited to serve on the board. Planning Item Mary Barnes, a city planner, presented a proposed rezoning project. The property in question is currently zoned as agricultural, and the applicant is proposing to rezone it to Planned Industrial Commercial (PIC). Barnes explained that the PIC zone allows for various uses, including restaurants, retail services, light industrial, and office spaces. She noted that staff agrees with the applicant that this is a good zone for the area due to the mix of industrial and commercial uses in the vicinity. Barnes presented a concept plan showing four office warehouse units and one drive-through unit. She emphasized that this was a preliminary plan and subject to change. The plan included parking and potential access points, which were still under review. Concerns were raised by attendees regarding traffic, safety for nearby school children, noise, and the proximity of industrial uses to an elementary school. Many meeting attendees either worked at Treeside Charter School or had children who attended the school. Attendees are especially concerned since construction of Remington Commons is already disruptive to the school. The applicant, Ryan Litke, addressed some of these concerns, explaining that they were working on traffic solutions and that the development would include landscape buffers and curbs to separate it from the school property. The applicant stated that it was more likely that traffic from Treeside Charter School would drive on this property rather than patrons and delivery drivers driving on the school property. A straw poll was conducted to gauge the community's opinion on the project. The results showed: Those opposed to the project: 17 Those in favor of the project: 2 It was noted that this poll was not binding but would provide insight for the Planning Commission and City Council. Residents were encouraged to attend and comment at the Planning Commission and City Council meetings. Announcement of District 2 Chair, Vice Chairs, and Secretary It was announced that Ruth Eldredge Thomas would serve as chair for the next year, with Katherine Hall continuing as vice chair and Kevin Cook as an additional vice chair. Tana Hoover was selected as secretary. No formal vote was required as they were the only candidates for the positions. Oregon Avenue Traffic Study Results Rachel Breen presented the results of a traffic study conducted on Oregon Avenue. The study, carried out over 76 hours in December, showed that while the posted speed limit is 25 mph, the 85th percentile speed was 35 mph. The highest recorded speeds were in the 40-55 mph range. The volume of traffic was relatively low, with about 10-11 vehicles per hour. Based on these results, the recommendations were to provide speed information to the police department for increased patrols and to request a radar speed trailer. No additional traffic control measures were recommended at this time. Matching Grant Proposal and Vote: Radar Speed Signs at Locust Lane and Briar Avenue Katherine Hall presented a proposal for a matching grant to install radar speed signs on Locust Lane and Briar Avenue near Wasatch Elementary School. The proposed signs would display the posted speed limit and flash the current speed of approaching vehicles. The project aims to address speeding concerns in the school area. The board discussed the potential locations for the signs and the data collection capabilities of the newer models. It was noted that the grant would cover approximately $7,500, which should be sufficient for the signs. A vote was taken to approve the project: Those opposed to the project: 0 Those in favor of the project: 11 State Street Cleanup service project on May 3rd Katherine Hall presented a proposal for a State Street cleanup project scheduled for May 3rd. The project would involve volunteers cleaning up trash and weeds along both sides of State Street, starting from Provost Elementary and continuing for about two miles. Hall explained that this project would help fulfill the service hour requirements for the matching grant application. The board discussed safety concerns and set an age limit of 16 and older for volunteers due to the busy nature of State Street. Hall also mentioned that safety vests and other equipment would be purchased for the project. The board approved the project and encouraged community members to sign up for volunteer hours. Public Comments ● A concern was raised about the future of two playgrounds at the former Wasatch Elementary, which are now partially on BYU-owned land. The board agreed to draft a letter to address this issue and seek clarification on the plans for these playgrounds. ● A resident suggested considering storm drain improvements and additional road connections for the proposed development near Treeside Charter School. ● A parent expressed opposition to the proposed rezoning near Treeside Charter School, citing concerns about student safety and potential disruptions to learning. ● Questions were raised about plans for abandoned student housing on 900 East and BYU's intentions for the old Wasatch Elementary School building. The board acknowledged these concerns and noted that they would be included in the official report sent to relevant city offices. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting was announced for April 30th, with a subsequent meeting scheduled for August 12th.