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Orem council member urges protection of family neighborhoods, more open space on State Street
Summary
Truman Van Cott told the meeting he opposes high-density apartments along State Street, called for prioritizing neighborhood family housing and increasing open space, and urged the council to set terms with state and federal partners including UDOT.
Truman Van Cott, a City Council member in Orem, said at the meeting that preserving neighborhood family housing and increasing open space should be a top city priority and urged the council to set terms with state and federal partners on development along State Street.
Van Cott said he has opposed high-density housing in Orem since he was 12 and expressed concern that outside developers are “not have[ing] our interests at heart.” “I really like to see, neighborhood family housing, and I don't like the encroachment coming from developers that do not have our interests at heart,” he said.
“The number 1 issue facing Orem is a lack of open space,” Van Cott added. “We are losing our community because we don't have places to congregate and gather together.” He urged local officials to negotiate terms with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and other partners so projects on State Street reflect the city's priorities rather than outside interests. “The number 1 thing that Orem needs is a city council member who is willing to set the terms with our state and federal partners instead of allowing our city to be dictated to,” he said.
The remarks in the transcript focus on policy priorities and local control; the transcript does not record any formal council action, motion or vote on the subject, nor does it specify proposed ordinances, funding sources or a timeline for any changes to zoning or public space on State Street.
