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City approves second amendment to Orchards development agreement, reverts to five‑building layout
Summary
Santaquin City Council on April 15 approved Resolution 408 to amend the Orchards development agreement, returning the project to its original five‑building configuration and enabling condominium units instead of apartments; developer said the change improves project economics and allows phased construction.
The Santaquin City Council voted April 15 to approve Resolution 408, a second amendment to the Orchards Development Agreement that reverts the project to its original five‑building layout and moves toward condominiums rather than apartments.
City staff told the council the amendment restores the earlier configuration authorized in the 2017 agreement and does not change the project’s amenities. The amendment slightly increases the project’s open space and leaves architectural review and other approvals in place.
John Caldwell of Revere Homes, a representative for the property owner and developer, told the council the change is intended to improve the project’s financial feasibility. Caldwell said partners who had pushed a two‑building design are being bought out and that the five‑building plan allows the developer to “take small bites” — building and selling phases incrementally to fund subsequent phases. Caldwell said a timeline is “somewhat up in the air” and depends on resolving partner and financing issues.
Council members did not request substantive changes to the agreement at the meeting. A motion to approve Resolution 408 was made and seconded and passed by the council. The council noted the development must still complete required architectural review and comply with existing conditions in the agreement.
Why it matters: The amendment shifts the Orchards project away from a larger rental configuration toward condominium ownership, which the developer and staff say could increase opportunities for homeownership and make phased construction more financially viable. The resolution keeps prior amenities and regulatory reviews intact.
Council action and next steps: Staff said the amended agreement returns the written terms to the original configuration and that any building or subdivision phases will still be subject to architectural and other city reviews. The developer said the revised plan should allow selling units as phases are completed, which he said will help finance later phases. A specific buildout schedule was not specified at the meeting.
Approximately where this appears in the record: Council discussion introducing Resolution 408 begins in the meeting transcript when the mayor moved on to item 408; developer remarks and council vote are recorded later in the same agenda section.
