Planning commission recommends industrial zoning along Provo River

PROVO — The Provo Planning Commission received more public input than usual at its meeting Wednesday when it unanimously recommended a zoning change that would allow a property running along a portion of the Provo River to be converted into an industrial warehouse complex.

The commission discussed a proposal from Eric Yergensen, a local business development manager, to make a zone map amendment that would change a current agricultural zone to an airport industrial zone in order to move forward with plans to build a flex/industrial space on a property located at approximately 3420 W. Center Street in Provo. He also requested approval for the industrial campus concept plan at the location, which would include the location that was proposed to be rezoned as well as a neighboring lot that was recently changed to an airport industrial zone.

The concept plan for the industrial campus currently depicts three buildings built two-stories tall with public access to open space amenities along the river and a trail encompassing the properties. Located at the northwest corner of where Center Street and Lakeview Parkway intersect, the northernmost edge of the property is the southern bank of the Provo river.

Converting the property would most likely include removing the trees on the riverbank, which was one of the greatest concerns from residents who spoke against the project on Wednesday.

The Provo River Parkway recreation trail runs along the north bank of the river, meaning the warehouse complex will become part of the visual landscape on that part of the trail. Several residents expressed concerns that local wildlife would be disturbed and the scenic value of the area would be diminished by the complex being built so close, especially if a layer of trees were removed.

"I just have always loved going up and down the bike trail," said Provo resident Lyssandra Harker, who spoke at the meeting. "It's one of the only places that I will go outside in the middle of the day in summer because it's so well shaded, and I know that I'm not alone in that. Even though these developments are taking place south of the river, the river is not that wide. ... If they lose the trees, you're gonna lose the entire feeling of connecting with nature in the area."

Since hearing about the plans to rezone and build the warehouse complex, Harker has been vocal in alerting the community about the impending changes in hopes others would join in protecting the area. The planning commission acknowledged that the issue has garnered more public input than usual and it has received several comments from citizens that this development would be a poor use of the land.

Still, there has been a lot of debate on what would be a better use of the land, since planes from the Provo Airport have a flight path directly over the property that may make it too noisy to be a residential area.

Yergensen argued that the warehouse complex will be a better use for the land because it creates employment in the area and intends to support the Provo Airport as an airport industrial zone. He shared that one of the warehouse tenants will be Wasatch Product Development, who is owned by Nu Skin, a beauty and wellness company. It has not yet been announced if the Provo Airport will be one of the other tenants should the plan move forward.

Both Yergensen and several members of the Halladay family who own the property agreed that the trees on the riverbank are not an asset to the area. They referred to the cottonwood trees as "junk trees" and explained that the trees are more of a nuisance to them because of the cotton that sheds from the trees and gets trapped in their garages and air conditioning systems.

The trees are also not fully stable on the riverbank and some are partially growing at angles down into the river, making the area hazardous if not better maintained. Overall, they recommended that the developers remove the trees and replant healthier ones, but they will likely not have any legal obligation to do so.

There is still one remaining residence on the southeast corner of the lot whose owner refused to sell their land and will remain on the property. But one of the owners of the rest of the property, Christine Halladay, explained that her family is ready to sell the land and retire. She expressed having to be approved by the City Council and other entities to sell their own land has made the process difficult for the family.

The planning commission voted unanimously to recommend the Provo City Council approve the zoning change with several conditions. The Provo City Council will likely discuss the matter in its next council meeting on March 25. Agendas and more information on these meetings are published on the city website.

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