Planning Commission backs city-initiated Public Facility Rezone to protect parks, cemetery and civic parcels

The Lehi City Planning Commission on Dec. 12 unanimously recommended that City Council approve the Public Facility Rezone 2024, a city-initiated proposal to rezone various city-owned parcels to Public Facility to help protect long-term public use of parks, the city cemetery and other civic properties.

Staff said the change is largely administrative — aligning the zoning map with actual city ownership and civic use — and noted three DRC red-line comments, including a recommendation to submit a general-plan amendment for portions of Family Park that are still designated VLDR on the general plan. Staff described the rezone as a way “to ensure the long term public use of these properties and to add another layer of protection for their public use.”

Resident Grant Pearson attended and asked whether the rezone would affect planned cemetery work near his home and whether the city rezoning would prevent a pending parcel sale he has pursued for years. He said, “I don't really have any comments because, I don't fully understand what's taking place here,” and asked how the rezone would impact the nearby cemetery and parcels. Staff responded that the rezoning applies to parcels the city already owns and should not prevent his purchase of privately owned adjacent property; staff showed the map and clarified which parcels are included.

After public questions, a commissioner moved to recommend approval of the city-initiated rezone with DRC comments incorporated. The motion passed unanimously; staff said the proposal will be forwarded to City Council (staff referenced January council scheduling).