Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation Master Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council moves to remove language inviting development in Slate Canyon area from parks master plan
Summary
The Provo Municipal Council voted unanimously to direct staff to proceed with an amendment to remove a master-plan bullet that could be read as allowing parcel sales or residential development in the Slate Canyon future-park area after robust public opposition to development proposals.
The Provo Municipal Council unanimously directed staff on Oct. 21 to begin the process of amending the Parks and Recreation Master Plan to remove a bullet listing that had been interpreted as allowing consideration of city parcels in Slate Canyon for residential development to raise park funding. The motion passed 5–0.
Analyst Kevin Martins summarized the proposed change: remove the second bullet under the Slate Canyon plan in Chapter 7.1 that referenced potential development of parcels in the Slate Canyon area. Martins said the proposal was sponsored by Councilor Bogdan and Councilor Christiansen and grew out of substantial neighborhood opposition to a private proposal called “Splash Summit.” He noted the park-area designation covers roughly 100 acres.
Nut graf: The amendment is a policy statement intended to remove language council members described as “bait” for developers and to publicly reaffirm that the city does not intend to support development in the Slate Canyon future-park area. Council members cited a large neighborhood meeting in which hundreds of residents expressed opposition to development in the area.
Council discussion reviewed background, funding questions and public sentiment. Council member Garrett and others said the consultant language that suggested evaluating city parcels for residential development was likely aimed at exploring funding options, but opponents warned that putting such language in the plan invited developer pressure. Council members repeatedly pointed to the large turnout at an April neighborhood meeting and to public comments opposing the Splash Summit concept.
Questions from councilors sought clarity on acreage and ownership. Martins and other presenters said parts of the overall Slate Canyon area are steep and unbuildable, that some parcels are state-owned and that Parks and Recreation plans to rewrite the master plan next year and would remove the bullet in that process regardless. Still, sponsors asked the council to act to make a public, immediate statement.
Motion and vote: Councilor McKay moved to remove the language and to direct staff to move forward with the amendment; Councilor Handley seconded. The council recorded a 5–0 vote in favor (Botkin: yes; Whipple: yes; Garrett: yes; Hamley: yes; McCain: yes). Martins said the amended language would go before the Planning Commission on Nov. 12 and could return to the council for final action as early as Dec. 2 if schedules align.
Ending: Councilors said the vote was intended to both reflect residents’ views and prevent future proposals from using the master plan language as leverage. Staff will carry the motion into the Planning Commission process and the master-plan rewrite scheduled for next year.
