Orem council work session debates simplifying land-use categories, proposes multifamily and agricultural designations

Orem city officials and planning staff spent much of an Aug. 20 pre-meeting work session debating how to simplify and update the city's general-plan land-use categories, with discussion centered on whether to consolidate duplicate residential classifications, create a distinct multifamily category, and establish an agricultural/open-space designation.

The discussion matters because the general plan directs future zoning and reinvestment priorities across Orem. Staff said clearer categories would help the city target infrastructure and grant funding for older neighborhoods and guide future zoning updates.

Grant (staff member) opened the discussion by reviewing the existing land-use chapter and the current classification list: rural/rural residential, low-, medium- and high-density residential; commercial (professional, community, regional); industrial (light, heavy); mixed-use; and planned development (PD) zones. He said the team will revise the map and had posted draft chapters to a shared Google Drive for comments.

Council…