By Joni Renick
Land use and parking topped Provo City Council agenda on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
Council member Paul Warner asked that any students who feel they are being unfairly treated by any zoning ordinance contact the mayor or the council and voice their concerns.
Warner said he and the council have a real desire to work with BYU to provide for the needs of the students.
Two of the resolutions passed Tuesday could have a direct impact on BYU students.
The first resolution requires homeowners to keep at least 50 percent of their yard space free for landscaping and green area.
This means, according to Richard Secrist director of Community Development, that homes in single-family residential areas cannot have their entire front or back yard made into a parking lot.
Secrist cited problems in areas of the city that have renters living in the houses in addition to the homeowner.
These areas include parts of the city where BYU students live.
Secrist said homes that have too much concrete devoted to parking space would not likely be sold again for family use. He said homes in these low-density areas should be family oriented.
Homes already built with more than 50 percent of their yard in concrete would not be forced to change because of this ordinance, Secrist said.
The council passed the resolution unanimously.
In the second resolution affecting BYU students, Secrist presented a proposal to change the number of parking spaces required for residences where singles reside.
Secrist said the old ordinance was written so that a six bedroom apartments housing six singles would be allowed to have more parking than a three bedroom apartment housing the same number of singles.
The previous ordinance allowed apartment complexes to provide two parking spaces per shared bedroom, and 1.5 spaces per single bedroom.
The new ordinance changes that allowance to only 1 space per single bedroom.
The ordinance also clarified the rule that only six students are allowed to live in one apartment in any high-density area of the city.
