Public Meeting Transcripts

City Council Work Session - January 2024

The Lehi City Council held a work session on January 2, 2024, as the city government transitioned into the new year. Work sessions are informal meetings where council members review upcoming agenda items, discuss policy matters, and receive staff briefings without taking formal votes. With three newly elected council members — Paige Albrecht, Heather Newall, and Michelle Stallings — set to be sworn in at the January 9 regular meeting, this session served as an orientation and transition opportunity for the incoming council. The new members were elected in the November 2023 municipal election and would formally take office at the start of the regular council session the following week. No formal actions were taken at this work session.

Planning Commission - December 14, 2023

The Lehi Planning Commission met on December 14, 2023 to consider several conditional use permits and site plans, with the most consequential item being approval of Howland Partners' Kura Sushi and Flower Child commercial site plan with a drive-through located at approximately 2001 West Ridge Road in the Traverse Mountain area. Public discussion centered on the drive-through configuration and the drive-aisle separating the building from the street, and the commission ultimately approved the project. The commission also took up Joe Moschetti's request for conditional use approval of the Freedom Trucking Driving School with vehicle storage at approximately 11508 North Digital Drive, and Jeff Southard's request for conditional use approval of the Bellaview Commercial site plan with drive-throughs at 1200 West 3600 North. Additional zone-change and development items were on the agenda along with routine business, including approval of minutes from the August 24, 2023 meeting. Together, these approvals continue Lehi's pattern of commercial buildout along the western corridor, particularly around Traverse Mountain and the Ridge Road frontage. The commission's recommendations on items requiring legislative action will move to the City Council for final consideration at a subsequent meeting.

Planning Commission - December 14, 2023

The December 14, 2023 Lehi Planning Commission meeting was one of the most active sessions of the year, featuring eleven items on the regular agenda — including zone changes, residential development concepts, commercial site plans, and a code amendment. As the final Planning Commission meeting of 2023, the consent agenda also included approval of backlogged minutes from nine prior meetings dating back to May of that year. Significant development applications included two projects in or near downtown Lehi. The Beacon Point development at 1054 West Main Street involved both a zone change from Commercial to Mixed-Use and a concept plan for a 17-unit mixed-use residential project; both required Planning Commission recommendations before proceeding to the City Council. The Marwood Group Concept proposed a 31-unit residential development on 0.84 acres at 301 East State Street and similarly required a commission recommendation. Three minor subdivision plats — Grandview Estates at 214 South 300 East, Willes Plat B at 350 East 300 South, and the Barber subdivision at 1454 West 900 North — were also reviewed; each involved a two-lot split with an existing home retained on the property. On the commercial side, the commission considered conditional use permits for the Kura Sushi and Flower Child restaurant site plan with drive-thru service at 2001 West Ridge Road, the Bellaview Commercial project with multiple drive-thrus at 1200 West 3600 North, and a Freedom Trucking Driving School with vehicle storage at approximately 4300 North Digital Drive. The Larson Zone Change — a request to rezone 3.6 acres at approximately 1700 North Boston Street from Transitional Holding to Light Industrial — was also on the agenda for a commission recommendation. Finally, the commission reviewed a Development Code amendment to the off-street parking table that would remove a proximity requirement for townhomes adjacent to on-street parking, a change intended to ease parking compliance for infill residential development.

Local Building Authority - December 12, 2023

Local Building Authority - December 12, 2023

City Council and Joint Work Session - December 5, 2023

City Council and Joint Work Session - December 5, 2023

City Council - November 14, 2023

The Lehi City Council met on November 14, 2023 and unanimously voted to update the city's animal code, increasing the household limit on dogs from two to three and expanding where larger farm animals can be kept. Under the revised ordinance, horses, donkeys and mules are now allowed on any parcel of at least half an acre regardless of zoning classification; previously these animals could only be kept on half-acre lots specifically zoned agricultural. Community Development Director Kim Struthers told the council the prior code had been "confusing to a lot of people," prompting frequent calls to staff for clarification. A more aggressive staff proposal to allow goats, sheep, pigs or llamas on quarter-acre parcels with a conditional use permit was rejected; the council kept the existing half-acre minimum for those animals. The council also considered Resolution #2023-69 approving an agreement with Tycon Construction for construction of the Flight Park pressurized irrigation reservoir, along with amendments to the Design Standards and Public Improvements Specifications Manual and updates to the city's Master Transportation Plan. An update on The Point project was presented by Alan Matheson of the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority, and the council recognized the Lehi Cares Coalition with a logo award. In a development item with longer-term implications, the council reviewed concept plan approval for Hardman Farms, a proposed 67-unit Planned Unit Development at approximately 3200 North Indian Ford Drive — the same Hardman family property that has been at the center of the controversial Clubhouse Drive extension debate the council voted on three weeks earlier. The next regular City Council meeting was scheduled for after the November 21 General Election.

City Council - November 14, 2023

The November 14, 2023 Lehi City Council meeting was one of the more substantive sessions of the fall, featuring a lengthy regular agenda with multiple ordinances, development approvals, and policy decisions. In the pre-council session, the mayor and council received updates on The Point development project from Alan Matheson, heard a Lehi fiber network update, discussed a potential development agreement for the Gardner property at the corner of Redwood Road and 2100 North, and reviewed a proposed conservation easement for the Traverse Mountain area. The council adopted several ordinances at the regular session. Ordinance 62-2023 amended the city's animal code, removing the cumulative restriction on animal ownership rights and increasing the maximum number of dogs allowed per household from two to three — a change the Planning Commission had recommended in October. Ordinance 66-2023 added a proposed long-range "north shore offshore freeway" corridor along the north side of Utah Lake to the Master Transportation Plan. Ordinance 64-2023 updated the Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan with new trail connections between Dry Creek Elementary and the Dry Creek Trail. Ordinance 65-2023 established new requirements for traffic impact studies in the Design Standards Manual. Ordinance 67-2023 amended Chapter 37 of the Development Code to add an exceptions clause to the Multi-Family Design Standards. On the development side, the council considered final subdivision approval for River Point Phase 3, an 11.36-acre residential project by Edge Homes at approximately 1050 North 3750 West, and reviewed the Hardman Farms 67-unit Planned Unit Development concept at approximately 3200 North Indian Ford Drive. A public hearing was held on Ordinance 63-2023 to vacate the section of 100 North between Center Street and 100 East. The council also approved Resolution 2023-69 authorizing a construction contract with Tycon Construction for the Flight Park pressurized irrigation reservoir, and Resolution 2023-68 making new appointments to the John Hutchings Museum Board of Trustees.

Planning Commission Meeting - November 9, 2023

Summary not yet available. View the official agenda and video recording using the links above.

City Council - November 7, 2023

The November 7, 2023 Lehi City Council meeting was a special afternoon work session, distinct from the council's regular evening meeting schedule. The session's primary purpose was to receive the annual PARC Tax presentations from recipient organizations — a required step in the city's oversight of its Parks, Arts, Recreation, and Culture tax funding. Organizations presenting to the council included the Lehi Arts Council, Thanksgiving Point Institute, Lehi Historical Society and Archives, and the Roots of Humanity Foundation, each reporting on how PARC Tax funds were used during fiscal year 2023. Following the presentations, councilmembers participated in a tour of the Lehi Block Transit-Oriented Development site. The Lehi Block TOD is a major mixed-use redevelopment project planned near the FrontRunner commuter rail station, intended to bring higher-density housing, retail, and commercial activity to the area around the station. The tour gave council members an on-the-ground look at the site as planning and development on that project continues to advance. No votes or formal actions were taken at this work session. The regular City Council meeting with its full legislative agenda followed on November 14, 2023.

City Council - November 7, 2023

Summary not yet available. View the official agenda and video recording using the links above.

Planning Commission - November 2, 2023

Summary not yet available. View the official agenda and video recording using the links above.

Planning Commission - November 2, 2023

The November 2, 2023 Lehi Planning Commission meeting featured one of the most significant items of recent months: the site plan review for the new Lehi City Hall and Library, proposed for 100 North Center Street. The commission was asked to approve the site plan for the new public facility, which will serve as a major civic anchor for downtown Lehi. This project follows a bond approved by voters in prior years and is part of the city's broader downtown revitalization effort. Two applications submitted by Texas Instruments came before the commission simultaneously: a Skye Area Plan amendment to adjust the location of the Technical Manufacturing Buffer on the company's campus near 4000 North Flash Drive, and a companion zone change that would reclassify approximately 25.69 acres west of the campus from Planned Community to Technical Manufacturing while converting a corresponding 25.69 acres south of the facility from Technical Manufacturing to Planned Community. Together these changes would better align the zoning with TI's campus operations. The commission also reviewed a conditional use permit for Jewel's Towing Site Plan at 4641 North Digital Drive and a pylon sign permit for the Primary Children's Medical Center at 2250 North Miller Campus Drive. Rounding out the agenda were two related applications on the Berry Property at 116 South 600 East: a zone change from Transitional Holding to Neighborhood Commercial, and a concept plan for an indoor pickleball facility on the same site submitted by Tracy Tanner. Both items required Planning Commission recommendation before proceeding to the City Council.

Planning Commission - October 26, 2023

The Lehi Planning Commission met on October 26, 2023, with the most notable item being a public hearing and recommendation on Lehi City's request to vacate a section of public street — specifically the portion of 100 North that runs between Center Street and 100 East in the downtown core. Street vacations transfer ownership of the right-of-way to adjacent property owners and are typically pursued when a roadway is no longer needed for public use, often in connection with redevelopment. The commission's recommendation will move to the City Council for final action at a subsequent meeting. The remainder of the agenda consisted of routine planning items. Residents interested in the downtown street vacation can review the official agenda and video recording using the links above.

Planning Commission - October 26, 2023

The October 26, 2023 Lehi Planning Commission meeting addressed five items, with a mix of development applications and city policy updates. The commission considered a concept plan submitted by Brad Long for BDL Structures, a project at 675 West Main Street in the Urban Village Design District. The applicant requested an exception to the district's building elevation requirements — an item that often draws attention from commissioners focused on maintaining the character of downtown Lehi. A significant development proposal before the commission was the Hardman Farms Planned Unit Development Concept Plan, submitted by Lora Hardman, proposing 67 residential units at approximately 3200 North Indian Ford Drive. The commission was asked to make a recommendation to the City Council on this concept. Two city-initiated amendments also came before the commission: Development Code changes to Chapter 12 and the Municipal Code that would remove the cumulative requirement for animal ownership rights and increase the maximum number of permitted dogs per household from two to three, and a Master Transportation Plan amendment that would designate a future long-range "offshore" freeway corridor along the north side of Utah Lake. The final item was a commission recommendation on vacating the section of 100 North Street between Center Street and 100 East — a street vacation that would need City Council approval to become final. The animal code changes and the Hardman Farms concept were expected to come before the City Council at its November 14 meeting.

City Council - October 24, 2023

The Lehi City Council voted 3-1 on October 24, 2023 to update the Master Transportation Plan to support a Clubhouse Drive extension to Redwood Road, adopting a route that bypasses the Hardman family property by re-routing through the existing 3600 West and 2700 North roads. The vote ends — at least at the city level — a six-year fight over one of West Lehi's most contentious transportation projects. The original 2018 alignment was abandoned after Thanksgiving Point-area residents pushed back, costing the city $9 million in state funding; the State Legislature revived the project in 2022 by taking jurisdiction of the road and funding an environmental and feasibility study, which is currently underway. UDOT and the Legislature retain final say over the route regardless of the council's preference. Mayor Mark Johnson framed the extension as one of six east-west corridors — alongside the 2100 North Freeway, Pioneer Crossing, Pony Express Highway, Porter Rockwell Boulevard and a new Point of the Mountain Connector — needed to handle West Lehi, Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain growth that planners project could reach 200,000 to 250,000 residents. Ryan Hales of Hales Engineering presented the technical case for the corridor. Public comment was dominated by the Hardman family and their attorney Travis Walter, who told the council the alignment as drawn would create "significant legal troubles" and would disrupt the family's plans for a 67-unit subdivision on the same property. A representative from neighboring Camp Williams reminded the council that state law requires support of routes within the base's protected zone. Councilwoman Katie Koivisto, a long-standing opponent of the extension, motioned to table the item; her motion failed. Councilman Chris Condie then moved the approving motion that ultimately passed 3-1, with Koivisto dissenting. After the vote Koivisto said she "wholeheartedly disagree[d]" with the decision and predicted it would "split, divide, and destroy Holbrook Farms as we know it." UDOT's environmental study will determine the final alignment in the months ahead.

City Council - October 24, 2023

The October 24, 2023 Lehi City Council meeting was a focused session with a short regular agenda. Councilmembers considered preliminary subdivision approval for Holbrook Farms Plat K, a five-lot commercial development located at approximately 2100 North 3600 West, submitted by Boyer Company. The council also reviewed a concept plan amendment for the Texas Instruments Skye Area Plan, which proposed adjusting the location of the Technical Manufacturing Buffer and reorganizing land use designations on the company's campus near 4000 North Flash Drive. Two development code amendments were on the agenda for final action. Ordinance 60-2023 proposed clarifying that indoor powersports and marine vehicle dealerships are permitted uses under the city's Retail Sales category — a technical cleanup intended to resolve ambiguity in the code. Ordinance 61-2023 proposed an amendment to the Lehi City Master Transportation Plan to add a new planned roadway alternative connecting Clubhouse Drive to Redwood Road, reflecting the city's ongoing effort to identify additional north-south connections as growth continues in the western portions of the city. Next steps for the Texas Instruments area plan and zone change amendments were anticipated to return to the council after the Planning Commission completed its review. This meeting's relatively brief agenda reflected that several major items, including the animal code changes and infrastructure ordinances, were still working through the Planning Commission review process.

Planning Commission - October 12, 2023

Summary not yet available. View the official agenda and video recording using the links above.

Planning Commission - October 12, 2023

The October 12, 2023 Lehi Planning Commission meeting covered a mix of individual property applications and several city-initiated code amendments. The commission reviewed two related applications for the McEacharn property at 415 West 500 North: a conditional use permit for a flag lot configuration and a two-lot subdivision plat, both submitted by Dave Tranter. A separate two-lot subdivision called Homestead Estates was also on the agenda at approximately 1400 North 2020 West, along with a conditional use permit for an eight-foot fence at a residential property on South 1960 West. The most significant land use item was the Hardman Heights Zone Change and Concept Plan submitted by Gardner Plumb for a 14.7-acre parcel at approximately 4551 West 2100 North. The application proposed changing the zoning from Commercial to Heavy Commercial and included a concept plan for a two-lot commercial development on the site. The commission was asked to make a recommendation to the City Council on the zone change. Three city-initiated code amendments were also reviewed: a Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan update adding trail connections between Dry Creek Elementary and the existing Dry Creek Trail, an amendment to the Design Standards Manual establishing requirements for traffic impact studies, and a Development Code amendment to Chapter 37 adding an exceptions clause to the Multi-Family Design Standards. These amendments collectively reflect the city's effort to manage its rapid growth with updated infrastructure and development standards, and were expected to proceed to the City Council for final adoption.