City Council - July 9, 2024

Meeting Summary

The July 9 City Council meeting was dominated by two major topics: a contentious debate over an annexation application and the launch of public hearings on a proposed new school district. The most heated discussion centered on Hadco-Pacific's request to annex approximately 24.95 acres at 2100 North 1450 West into Lehi City with a Light Industrial zoning designation. Neighboring residents had previously raised concerns before the Planning Commission about noise, dust, and incompatibility with adjacent residential uses. At the City Council level, the debate shifted to whether an annexation agreement with extensive mitigation requirements was legally appropriate. Mayor Mark Johnson and Councilmember Chris Condie argued the conditions were "heavy-handed" and should instead be addressed through zoning ordinances after annexation. Councilwoman Michelle Stallings countered that the placement of Light Industrial zoning next to residential areas reflected a broader flaw in the General Plan update process. The exchange grew tense, with Stallings and Condie sparring over whether the City had the authority to impose mitigation conditions at the annexation stage. The Council also held its first of two public hearings on a proposed ballot initiative to create a new "Central" school district by breaking away from Alpine School District (ASD). The hearing drew substantial public comment, with a majority of speakers expressing support for the split and forming a new district in partnership with American Fork, Highland, Alpine, Cedar Hills, and part of Draper. A second public hearing was scheduled for July 23. Separately, the Council held a public hearing on the issuance of Water Revenue Bonds to fund construction and installation of secondary water meters across the city, as required by state law for all pressurized irrigation connections; the bonds would be supported through state grant and loan assistance programs. The Council also approved an amendment to the construction services agreement with Strong Solutions for Shadow Ridge Park and approved a zone change on 1.19 acres at approximately 1500 North 3600 West from R-3 (high-density residential) to Neighborhood Commercial for the Exchange Business Park. The school district question was set to continue at a second public hearing on July 23, 2024, with a potential November ballot measure for Lehi voters depending on the outcome of that process. The Hadco annexation debate signaled broader disagreements on the Council about how and when to impose development conditions on properties entering the city.