Concept plans for a new apartment complex on the grounds of the abandoned Park Plaza apartments were approved in a unanimous decision by the Provo City Planning Commission on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
The commission also met to discuss a zoning change that would have allowed the parking ratio of the complex to receive a reduction from the standard of 1.08 parking stalls per bed to 0.5 stalls per bed if approved.
For a new complex to be built, it must first meet city zoning requirements, which are approved on a case-by-case basis. Alongside this zoning request, the applicant can also request for certain provisions to the standard zoning requirements, which in this case, would mean less parking for students than is required on the property. As proposed, this would be 238 on-site parking stalls and 40 off-site parking stalls for a complex that houses 491 students.
The commission ultimately voted against the rezoning request in a 4-3 vote, citing parking-related issues as its deciding factor, yet gave praise to the project otherwise.
Additionally, the commission only approved the concept plans under the condition that the parking ratio would be addressed in addition to the other steps of governmental approval.
Cole West, the company that purchased Park Plaza, proposed several ideas to accommodate for parking issues. These ideas included rental vehicles, off-site parking with weekend shuttle services for those needing to reach their vehicle and explicit language in the lease notifying tenants of the parking situation.
Commission member, David Conger, was hesitant to these proposals.
“This feels like an untrusted, untested model,” Conger said.
During his own survey of the area prior to the public hearing, Conger also said that he has seen a preexisting problem with spillover parking in the nearby neighborhood surrounding Kiwanis Park.
The commission additionally proposed several difficult circumstances in relation to the consequence of lowering the parking ratio. Questions such as the city’s proposed enforcement plan over an abundance of vehicles in the area and traffic concerns highlighted a few of the potential challenges a lower parking ratio could provide.
Melissa Kendall, another commission member, referenced the city's preexisting struggles with parking in her disapproval. She also cited that there have been no traffic studies of the area and that the situation surrounding traffic on 900 E is bad enough as is.
"I would want to see that traffic can be managed with that many units," Kendall said.
Members of the public carried mixed opinions on the matter. Some were in favor of the parking restriction, citing the nearby UVX stop and close proximity to campus as great accommodations for those without cars. Others argued that a ratio of 0.5 is unfeasible and that many students who bring cars to campus suffer from parking struggles already.
(Alex Von Forell)
Walker Wood, a representative for Cole West, expressed that other universities— such as the University of Michigan — have used similar models of off-site parking and shuttle services to the lots. However, Wood said that this model has not been tested in Provo, and that Cole West is treating this project as one of one.
While this project is still in its planning stages, Wood said that it is likely to be delivered in 2030.
A recording of the full commission meeting can be found here.