Provo planning commission approves Beehive Bazaar conditional use permit with parking, hours and signage conditions

The Provo City Planning Commission on May 14 unanimously approved a conditional use permit allowing Beehive Bazaar to operate a reception/event center at 1595 North Freedom Boulevard in the Carterville neighborhood.

The decision came after staff presented the application and neighbors raised parking, noise and safety concerns. Planning staff recommended approval with conditions including a 52-person occupancy cap tied to available parking, a requirement to maintain a business license and a valid parking lease, and defined hours of operation.

Nancy (planning staff) told commissioners that the building was constructed in 1978 and had been vacant. She said staff recommended approval with conditions, including that “the occupancy is capped at a 52 persons based on the lease agreement of how many parking spaces they have,” that the applicant obtain the correct business license prior to operating, and that the applicant keep a valid lease for 22 off-site parking spaces while operating.

Noel Open, the Beehive Bazaar founder, described the bazaar’s history and community role: “The Beehive Bazaar is a handmade art and craft fair that takes place 3 times a year in the spring and the fall and early December. The bazaar has grown exponentially, but remained in Provo for over 21 of past years.” Open said the bazaar has generated revenue for local small businesses and called the proposal a way to provide a permanent home for local makers.

Co-owner Richard Bingham said the applicants had negotiated a lease for 22 parking spaces with the adjacent property owner and had informal permission to use overflow parking at iHub on slower nights. Bingham said iHub’s owner “has also given us permission to use the north end of the iHub parking lot as an overflow as needed,” and that during a recent two-week market sharing the iHub lot the event saw “about a 50 to 200 guests per day” without parking issues.

Neighbors and neighborhood chairs objected primarily to parking spillover and late-night noise. David Alders, Carterville Neighborhood Chairperson, said the neighborhood was “absolutely opposed to having another event center” and reported that past event centers have pushed parking into neighborhood streets. Several residents described an unaddressed open alley that they said allows foot traffic to cut through yards and raises safety and litter concerns; one resident said the parcel appears to have “no owner” and asked the city to investigate.

Corbin Church, owner of iHub and a supporter of the proposal, called the existing building “an eyesore” and urged approval. Church said iHub has 225 parking spaces and that when iHub hosted a large event “we had 650 people show up” and overflow did not spill into the neighborhood.

Commissioners discussed enforcement tools if the use creates problems. Staff noted the conditional use permit and the city business license are separate enforcement levers: the conditional use permit may be revoked for violations and the business license may be pulled if conditions are not met. Commissioners asked staff to pursue separate referrals about the alley and broader neighborhood parking issues with appropriate city groups and to work with the neighborhood.

Commissioner [Daniel] Gonzales moved to approve the conditional use permit SLU6299 for a reception center in the CG (General Commercial) zone at 1595 North Freedom Boulevard with conditions that the occupancy be capped at 52 persons, a business license be obtained before operation, the 22-space parking lease be maintained for as long as the business operates, hours of operation be defined (applicants stated they would limit events to 9 a.m.–10 p.m.), and event parking be directed with signage to avoid neighborhood spillover. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

The permit approval is contingent on the conditions the commission imposed and on continued compliance with Provo City code and any applicable business-license terms. Staff said they will follow up with neighborhood representatives about alley security and broader parking-management options.