Utah County commissioners refer TR5 zoning review to planning commission after residents urge protection of Provo foothills

The Utah County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to refer a review of the county's TR5 zoning designation in sections 7 and 18 to the Utah County Planning Commission after extended public comment from Provo residents urging restraint in foothills development.

Speakers from the community described the foothills as a regional amenity that should be conserved before any large-scale or utility-dependent development proceeds. Craig Christiansen, a Provo resident, urged the board to “continue to provide leadership to the county, specifically in terms of rethinking t r 5, sending that back to the commission to be reconsidered.” Other residents warned of more traffic, geology and wildlife risks and asked the county to wait until Provo’s Foothills Preservation Ordinance is finalized so county action would align with the city’s plan.

County staff and commissioners debated the scope of the referral. Peggy Kelsey of Community Development recommended the board give the Planning Commission a clear direction rather than sending multiple, broad options, saying referring both options would create “a lot of information, a lot of data, and a lot of stuff that they’re going to have to go through.” Greg Robinson (Community Development) clarified that the item as written would address TR5 in sections 7 and 18 unless the board explicitly directed a countywide review.

After hearing residents and staff, a commissioner moved to refer the item to the Planning Commission with instruction to consider the first option (the prong focused on TR5 allowance for planned unit developments); another commissioner seconded the motion. The board voted 3–0 to refer the matter. The Planning Commission is expected to study the regulations and return recommendations to the board; staff cautioned the review will generate research and workload for Community Development.

The referral is procedural: no development permits were before the board at this meeting and no application for the Provo foothills project was pending with the county. Public comments and staff presentations made clear the forthcoming Planning Commission review will be general in scope and not a decision on any single developer application.

Next steps: the Planning Commission will take up the referral and prepare findings and recommendations for the board; dates for Planning Commission hearings and staff reports were not specified during the meeting.