Community voices concerns about proposed Vesper Amphitheater

Provo residents and community members raised concerns at City Hall on June 2 about the proposed Vesper Amphitheater, an entertainment venue planned to be built at the mouth of Provo Canyon.

The proposed amphitheater, backed by members of the Osmond family, would have a maximum capacity of 20,000 people.

Since the project is not a city development, it would require zone map and general plan map amendments before moving forward. The plan must also be reviewed by the Planning Commission and the City Council before it is eligible for approval.

The meeting at Provo City Hall on June 2 gathered Provo residents to discuss the project's development plans and proposed zoning changes. Provo City Development Services Director Bill Peperone outlined the development process.

There are three applications that are going through the city process right now. A general plan amendment, a zone change and a concept plan, Peperone said.

The City Council will decide on the general plan amendment and zone change, while the Planning Commission will review the concept plan.

The project would require portions of the site currently designated as agricultural, public facilities and open space to be rezoned as SC3, or regional shopping center. Peperone said the zoning change would be accompanied by restrictions to prevent unwanted commercial development.

Since its a regional shopping center zone, it provides a long list of commercial uses. 95% of those we wouldnt want at this location, Peperone said. The development agreement will also limit exactly what uses can go on this property.

If the rezoning is approved, developers will move forward with a development agreement. Much of the June 2 meeting focused on the proposed zoning changes and the future of the gravel pit currently located on the property.

Bryan Bayles, who presented on behalf of the Vesper project team, argued that the project would be restoring the damage caused by the gravel pit.

A significant part of the project area has been shaped by decades of gravel mining and construction material recycling, Bayles said.

Bayles said the central question is not whether Provo Canyon should be protected, but rather how the disturbed property should be used moving forward.

The question is what should happen next with this specific long-disturbed property at the mouth of the canyon, Bayles said. Should it remain as it is, or is there a way to restore and reuse this site in a way that removes an active industrial use?

However, Kaye Nelson with Conserve Utah Valley argued that this shouldnt be an either-or situation.

A gravel pit might be unsightly and not fit the vision of what a natural, inviting canyon looks like, but this doesn't have to be an either-or situation, she said. Just because something can be done doesnt mean it should.

Nelson also called for additional research before the city considers approving the project. Bayles acknowledged that several studies remain necessary, including traffic, emergency access, parking, sound, lighting, water, wildlife, geology, drainage and architecture.

Despite the research that still needs to be done, Bayles said that venue planning consultants believe the project is feasible.

Based on their experience and preliminary technical work, they believe the project is feasible and that safe, efficient operations can be achieved, Bayles said. At the same time, we recognize that significant work remains.

The scale of the project was also questioned throughout the night. The total site area includes 100.7 acres, and the amphitheater will have a maximum capacity of 20,000, similar to the BYU Marriott Center's seating capacity. Bayles stated that the size of the project was necessary to make the project financially viable.

One of the difficulties of putting this project together was finding a way to compensate the land seller to a degree that was fair and equitable for him, Bayles said. With the size and cost of the real estate, theres got to be a business case to be made for this to make financial sense.

Developers also stated that they dont expect the venue to receive maximum capacity for every event. During the fall and winter months, the Vesper Amphitheater will be limited to its 8,000 indoor seats.

Throughout the meeting, Provo community members argued that the Vesper Amphitheater is not necessary.

If we want to appreciate the beauty of the canyon, the crown jewel of the Provo Canyon is already there, Elliot Nelson, a Provo resident, said. It doesnt need developing.

Brad Taylor, a Provo community member, stated that the development in Provo had become out of hand.

It seems like there is no sense of control, Taylor said. We keep voting for people that promise to get the growth under control. It seems to continue to not happen regardless of whos in office.

In response to this complaint, Provo Mayor Marsha Judkins stated that development is necessary, but should come with precaution.

We need the vitality of growth, but we have to do it in a really smart way, she said.

Judkins stated that shes excited about the possibility, but acknowledged that a lot of work still needs to be done.

There are concerns, of course. I think that people raised valid concerns, and we need to make sure that the traffic is taken care of," Judkins said.

The traffic issue was one of the biggest concerns for Bayles after the meeting concluded.

Weve got to figure out traffic, Bayles said. Its a massive problem for the concert venue itself, and just the public at large.

Although the meeting brought countless concerns to the surface, Bayles is grateful for the communitys remarks and the work that needs to be done going forward.

Its not the canyon versus our amphitheater. Its really a gravel pit versus the amphitheater, Bayles said. And for us, its pretty common sense.

Discussions for the project have been ongoing since March. The amphitheater proposal is scheduled to be heard by the Planning Commission at a public hearing on June 10, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Provo City Hall. Judkins encourages community members to reach out to the city with concerns and comments.