Planning commission recommends delineating Civic Center Park boundary and approves related definitions to aid downtown businesses

The Springville City Planning Commission voted to recommend amendments to the Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space Master Plan to delineate the boundary of Civic Center Park and to approve related changes to municipal definitions intended to clarify what the city calls a "community gathering area." Planning staff said the changes correct an omission in the 2022 master plan and would allow the city to define which downtown spaces count as parkland for master-plan level-of-service calculations and which are designated as community gathering areas.

Planning staff explained that the lack of a clearly drawn park boundary in the master-plan appendix had complicated local liquor-license decisions: under Title 32B of the Utah Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, a business seeking a full-service restaurant liquor license is restricted from locating within a specified distance of a ‘‘community location’’ such as a public park. Staff said the city could, by delineating the Civic Center Park boundary and adding a definition for "community gathering area," leave certain adjacent public spaces available for programming while not designating them as parkland that would trigger the proximity restriction.

Cody's Gastro Garage owner Chris Surean testified in favor of the boundary delineation. "My name is Chris Surean, with Cody's Gastro Garage. And I think this delineation is needed, and I'm in favor of it," he told the commission. Surean later said offering a full-service license had helped a Cody's location in Nephi: "Our Saturday and Sunday brunch has become quite popular, but, you know, we're losing a lot of business to these other guys that serve, you know, adult beverages," and said he gives discounts to law enforcement and first responders at another location.

Commissioners discussed the potential for increased nighttime activity downtown and emphasized management and public safety. One commissioner proposed—and the motion recorded—that staff coordinate with the Public Safety Department to prepare for any changes in downtown activity associated with additional licensed restaurants. Planning commissioners then voted to recommend approval of the park-boundary delineation as shown in the staff attachment and to recommend approval of the definitions amendments to Title 11, Chapter 3, Article 4.

Staff said the designation does not change how the city programs the space—farmers markets, Art City Days and other events remain allowed—but that the technical label (park vs. community gathering area) affects liquor-license proximity calculations and master-plan level-of-service acre accounting.