Council hears mixed views on rezoning for 577 East 400 South in Mazur neighborhood

The Provo Municipal Council on Dec. 3 considered an ordinance to rezone 577 East 400 South in the Mazur neighborhood from one‑family residential to Low‑Density Residential to allow detached secondary units or townhomes on the parcel.

Planner Mary Barnes told the council the Planning Commission recommended approval at its Nov. 13 meeting and argued the rezoning would support modest infill consistent with the city’s general plan and would increase housing supply. Barnes said the applicant envisions new units facing 400 South, with parking accessed from the back alley.

Several councilors, including Rachel Whipple, who said the property sits in her neighborhood, expressed concerns about the alley’s condition and capacity. Whipple noted the alley is not maintained by the city and is in poor shape; Barnes and councilors discussed that parts of the block have existing backyard units that rely on the alley, but neighbors worry that additional units would add vehicles to a narrow access way.

Councilors also raised questions about durability of landscaping and whether the owner should be required to remedy existing gravel yards as part of any approval. Fire‑department staff (Lynn Scofield) was consulted, and Barnes said the applicant revised the concept plan to provide backing space for parking; Scofield indicated that with the townhome footprints moved, formal fire access might not be required, which could preserve additional green space in the final project plan.

Some councilors said the proposal felt too dense for the parcel and preferred owner‑occupied alternatives such as ADUs; others said modest infill is consistent with recent updates to the general plan and could improve neighborhood vitality. Barnes closed the presentation and said conditions such as landscaping would be addressed in project‑plan review.

No final vote on the rezoning appears in the meeting transcript provided.