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Orem planning commission gives positive recommendation to state-mandated water-use chapter after brief hearing
Summary
At an Aug. 20 public hearing, Orem planning staff presented a draft Chapter 9 (water use and preservation) required by Senate Bill 110 (2022). The commission voted 4-1 to forward a positive recommendation to city council.
Orem's Planning Commission held a public hearing Aug. 20 on a proposed General Plan amendment to add Chapter 9, "Water Use and Preservation," a chapter required under the 2022 Senate Bill 110. After staff presentation and brief discussion, the commission voted to forward a positive recommendation to the City Council, 4-1.
The chapter is intended to align land-use planning with water demand and conservation objectives. Staff member Jared (pinch-hitting for Matt) summarized the state law's requirements: municipalities must consider how permitted development affects water demand and infrastructure, identify methods to reduce per-capita water use for future and existing development, and evaluate operations related to wastewater and stormwater in coordination with land-use planning.
Staff said much of the draft material already exists elsewhere in city policy and the code, but state law requires restating or compiling those policies in a single general-plan element. The presentation noted Utah's aridity and cited state estimates about potential water savings when municipal planning accounts for water use.
Commission discussion was brief. One commissioner questioned a factual statement about Utah's ranking among the nation's driest states; staff acknowledged the question but did not change the recommendation that the draft meets the state requirement. Several commissioners said they have concerns about the chapter being an "unfunded mandate" and described broader policy objections, but those elected members said the Planning Commission's role at this hearing was to determine whether the draft meets state law and should be forwarded to council.
A motion to forward a positive recommendation passed by recorded tally 4-1. The staff record did not identify each individual vote in the transcript excerpt; commissioners recorded their general positions during the motion and the clerk announced the final 4-1 count.
The item will next appear before Orem City Council for their consideration and a final decision.
