Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald
Orem City Center is shown on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.
Orem has long been considered the retail center of Utah County. How the current city council responds to a new Economic Development Division will determine in the future if that designation will be the case moving into the future.
For now, the City Council voted Tuesday to defer approving an Economic Development Plan to another meeting so they could make adjustments.
Those adjustments came from Councilman Terry Peterson who is not comfortable with reference to high- and medium-density housing, transportation and a walkable city.
Peterson noted the changes the council made in January about eliminating high-density housing along State Street. He is also concerned about buses he sees running empty, saying they should be filled before new ones are added.
Councilman Tom Macdonald wants it to be clear that the plan is merely a guide and not the rule.
Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald
Orem City is shown from above on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.
In 2015, the Economic Development Division created a new Economic Development Strategic Plan, which has served as a guide for the City of Orem’s economic development for the past seven years.
Over the past year, a full comprehensive update of the EDSP was completed. The EDSP is a guide for economic development for the City of Orem for the next five to 10 years.
The General Plan is a written guide for the future development of the city.
The cost of consultation by Thomas P. Miller and Associates for the plan was $118,768 and was completely paid through the Defunding Revolving Loan Funds from a federal program for economic development in communities. None of the cost came from the city.
According to Kathi Lewis, Orem’s Economic Development Division manager, chapter 5 of the plan describes the city’s intent to maintain a healthy working relationship with the Economic Development Division, in order to achieve the most desirable results in economic development pursuits.
“This plan is full of usable strategies that we are excited to put to use,” Lewis said.
The consulting team followed a structure outlined by the International Economic Development Council to develop a plan that provides:
- A realistic appraisal of available resources, constraints, and opportunities;
- A formulation of a clear mission and shared vision;
- The development of achievable and measurable goals;
- The formulation and implementation of project action plans to reach these goals and identify who will champion them;
- The design of clear metrics of success.
“Thomas P. Miller and Associates (TPMA or the Project Team) utilized an integrative methodology to develop the Economic Development Strategic Plan for Orem,” Lewis said. “The project consisted of three interconnected activities including analysis, alignment, and action.”
The analysis phase of the project involved an extensive and comprehensive review of historical planning documents, a quantitative data scan and analysis, a retail gap analysis, best practice research, and numerous stakeholder engagement sessions to garner feedback and input from a wide cross-section of community leaders, according to Lewis.
To generate alignment, the project team considered existing physical and resource infrastructure . Lastly, the project team, informed by the results of the analysis and alignment phases, developed strategies and action steps for the city to consider in the short, medium and long term to achieve a shared vision of Orem’s economic future.
“I am excited to have the EDSP as a guide to work with Orem businesses and build a stronger business community,” said Nate Prescott, Economic Development Analyst.
Recommendations were made by the planning commission to amend the economic plan.
The plan currently reads in part: “Commit to intentional and consistent dialogue with property owners and residents – ensure key city departments are collaborating to address concerns in an appropriate manner.”
The next line in the plan the planning commission recommended to red line, “In targeted and strategic locations, consider revising and reducing restrictions on duplexes, fourplexes, and townhomes. In targeted and strategic locations, consider zoning changes that will better facilitate medium-density development.”
These were the red lined deletions where Peterson wanted more clarity.
Suggested to keep in the plan was the line after, which said; “Continue to support and consider allocating resources to the Neighborhood Improvement Team, and update neighborhood plans.”
“All we are saying is Orem is open for business,” Macdonald said.
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- Orem City Center is shown on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.
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- Orem City is shown from above on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.
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