Orem planning staff and commissioners discuss limits and design options for residential height

Orem City planning staff and members of the Orem City Planning Commission met June 4 in a work session to review the city's rules on allowable heights for primary residential buildings and to discuss possible code changes.

Jared, a city staff member leading the presentation, said Orem measures building height from grade to the tallest point and that the standard maximum for single-family homes is 35 feet. "35 feet is the number to keep in mind. That's what we allow," Jared said. He outlined an existing exception in the R-12 and R-20 zones that allows heights to reach 45 feet when the portion above 35 feet is set back at least 50 feet from the street and comprises no more than 20% of the building.

Commissioners and staff framed the discussion around two goals: how to address neighborhood complaints about new buildings that appear overly massive at the property line, and how to propose changes that will withstand state-level limits on local design…