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Council signals desire to keep 100‑foot Provo River setback in code, ask staff to craft design‑corridor approach
Summary
City planners proposed options Sept. 23 to clarify the Provo River 100‑foot setback and related design guidance. Council members told staff they favor keeping a 100‑foot default setback in ordinance while creating clearer criteria for limited exceptions and adopting design‑corridor standards to encourage river‑facing development and public access.
City planning staff asked the Provo City Council Sept. 23 for direction on the city’s Provo River setback and possible design standards after a series of code amendments in 2020–21 that added a 40‑foot maintenance easement exception. Policy analyst David Pyle told the council that the 100‑foot setback has been in city code since the 1980s, originally established after 1983 flood events, and that a 40‑foot maintenance easement was added later to protect Public Works’ ability to operate equipment in the corridor.
Pyle said the city’s River and Lakeshore plan recommends encouraging buildings to face the river, adding active uses such as small commercial spaces and restaurants near the river, and adopting design guidance that integrates new development with the river’s natural amenity. He outlined several alternatives: keep a hard 100‑foot setback…
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