Orem planning commission opens push to update general plan; staff reviews state rules and land-use map

The Orem Planning Commission met in work session Dec. 11, 2024, in the City Council Chambers to review state requirements for municipal general plans and to begin planning a major update the city council has requested this year.

Staff framed the discussion around the state Land Use, Development, and Management Act (commonly called LUDMA) and the required elements a city must include in a general plan. Jared Hall, Planning Division manager, and other staff walked commissioners through how the plan functions as an advisory guide and how separate master plans and maps relate to that guidance.

The general plan, staff said, establishes long-term vision and goals but does not itself compel landowners or the city to take specific actions. "Except as provided in some of these subsections ... the general plan is an advisory guide for land use decisions," said Matt (city staff, planner). Staff reiterated that the plan is intended to inform later legislative actions such as zoning ordinances, which are the mechanisms that implement or alter the plan’s recommendations.

Why it matters: the general plan shapes expectations for residents, developers and elected officials. Commissioners were reminded that the plan provides predictability but is not binding law unless separate ordinances are adopted. The commission and staff discussed common public confusion when the land-use map resembles a zoning map and causes residents to assume roads or property changes are imminent.

Staff overview and next steps

City staff reviewed required general-plan elements identified in state statute, including a land-use element, a transportation/traffic circulation element, a moderate-income housing element and a newly required water-use and preservation element. Grant (city staff, planner) noted the city will produce a draft water element in coming months. Jared Hall described the general plan adopted in 2018 (with the Southwest area added at annexation in 2020) and said the council wants a comprehensive update this year; staff recommended beginning the update process soon.

Presenters emphasized that the land-use map is one chapter of the general plan and is often the part that draws the most public attention. Staff said the map categorizes areas by broad designations such as low-, medium- and high-density residential, commercial, industrial and open space; the narrative text attached to each land-use designation explains which zoning categories typically align with each designation.

Staff also described how master plans — for example, a transportation master plan or a water master plan — provide more detailed, project-level guidance. These master plans are intended to align with the general plan but are updated on different schedules; staff and consultants said that can create apparent conflicts over time unless the documents are coordinated.

Commission discussion

Commissioners pressed staff on tools to reduce public confusion, how gaps between the general plan and master plans are identified, and how the commission can better direct council and staff to pursue funding and capital improvements. One commissioner noted the difficulty for residents who learn about an element on a map and assume immediate implementation; staff suggested repeated public messaging and clearer staff reports that explain whether a shown project is an immediate commitment or a long-term vision.

Staff also noted that some plan elements are included as visionary items — projects the city would like to see completed over a multi-decade timeframe if funding becomes available. Grant gave an example from outside the city, where a long-standing planned roadway was completed after federal infrastructure funding became available.

Votes at a glance

The commission approved its consent agenda during the same meeting. The motion to approve the consent agenda (items 3.1–3.4) passed unanimously by roll call.

- Item 3.1: Approve site plan for Dan and JDK’s tow yard, generally at 1105 North 1300 West, M-2 zone (location and zone listed on agenda). - Item 3.2: Approve site plan for Shelley Lane PRD, 750 North 100 West, R-6 zone (location and zone listed on agenda). - Item 3.3: Approve 2025 Planning Commission meeting calendar (proposed two meetings in December 2025 and other standard adjustments). - Item 3.4: Approve minutes of the Nov. 24, 2024 meeting.

Rod moved approval of the consent agenda and Jim seconded. The chair called the question and a roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval (yes: 5; no: 0). The agenda listing and addresses above are taken from the meeting materials as read into the record.

What commissioners were asked to do next

Staff said the planning division will take the lead on drafting updates and materials for the commission’s review and will circulate supporting documents (including the current general plan and related master plans) through the city’s long-range planning web pages. Staff also recommended clearer public messaging on what a land-use map designation does and does not authorize, and asked commissioners to expect ongoing meetings and briefings as the update proceeds.

Ending

The commission closed the work session after the discussion and moved to its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Staff said additional public outreach and coordination across master-plan documents will follow as the commission and council begin the update process.