Provo administrative hearing officer Aaron Ardmore approved a staff-recommended project plan Jan. 7 to convert a former auto repair building at 790 West Columbia Lane in the River Grove neighborhood into an office-warehouse, with a new parking lot of 10 spaces and upgraded landscaping.

Planning staff said the building, constructed in 1955, will keep its existing footprint while receiving interior remodeling and exterior improvements. The current landscaping and parking area will be removed and replaced; staff recommended approval of the plan and noted the site is in the city’s CG zoning district.

Neighborhood residents who spoke during the public comment period largely supported the redevelopment but raised questions about parking and driveway safety. "This looks amazing," said Kristen Kramer, a neighborhood district board member, who asked what type of business would occupy the building. Rachel Green, who said she lives a block away on Columbia Lane, said she was "super excited" but asked that there be "enough parking" for whatever use moves in.

A commenter who said he had been a customer at MC Auto described the prior use as a traffic "nightmare." Planning staff responded that "per city code, you have to have off street parking" and clarified that on-street lanes on Columbia Lane are not counted toward the off-street parking requirement for the project. The staff report cited a new on-site lot with 10 spaces as part of the proposal.

An applicant representative identified himself at the hearing as Wes Romel and said the project has a prospective tenant lined up who would use a combination of office and warehouse space. After reviewing the staff report and noting the plan met code requirements for the CG zone and parking, Ardmore "moved to approve the project plan as stated in the item." The transcript records no roll-call vote or second; the hearing was then adjourned.

The record in the hearing includes the staff recommendation and public comments; the transcript does not specify the identity of the prospective tenant, any lease terms, nor a formal vote tally. Next procedural steps, if any, were not stated on the record.