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Planning commission recommends city council allow 'commissary kitchens' in C‑1 to support food trucks and small food businesses
Summary
The commission voted to forward a positive recommendation to city council on a staff‑backed text amendment to add 'commissary kitchens' to SLU 6291 and permit the use in the C‑1 zone; applicant Lemon and Sage described the facility as a culinary incubator serving food trucks and micro‑businesses at 15 E 700 N.
The Orem City Planning Commission on Jan. 21 voted to forward to city council a text amendment that would add the term "commissary kitchens" to standard land use code 6291 (catering services) and permit that use in the C‑1 zone. The proposal was introduced by staff and requested by Lemon and Sage Kitchens, which proposes a shared commercial kitchen at 15 East 700 North.
Applicant Chris Callicker said Lemon and Sage operates a culinary incubator in Springville since 2016 and described services that include food preparation, industrial sinks, grease separation, refrigerated storage and a place for mobile food vendors to clean and maintain trucks. He said roughly half the company’s users are mobile food trucks and the other half are micro‑food businesses that outgrow home kitchens and need an approved commercial space to produce packaged goods or sell at markets.
Why it matters: Utah health regulations and the state Department of Agriculture require commercial kitchen facilities for caterers, mobile vendors and packaged food producers. Because the C‑1 zone is intended for low‑traffic, nonretail commercial uses (offices, professional services), staff said a commissary — which does not serve customers on site — can fit C‑1’s purpose if listed explicitly.
Commission discussion: Commissioners raised whether making the use permitted in C‑1 citywide might create locations adjacent to neighborhoods where the use would be undesirable. Staff replied the C‑1 zoning map is limited and that other commercial zones (C‑2/C‑3) already allow similar uses in higher‑traffic corridors; no public commenters spoke.
Action and vote: A motion to forward a recommendation of approval to city council carried. The commission’s recommendation will send the proposed amendment to council for consideration with staff’s report attached.
Next step: City council will review the proposed text amendment and hold its own public hearing. If approved, the change will allow shared commercial kitchens in identified C‑1 locations subject to code standards.
