4/7/08-11

Council looks at parking for proposed Cherry Hill apartments Print E-mail
Rette Speight - NORTH COUNTY STAFF

A high-density apartment development proposed Tuesday at the Orem City Council meeting brought on mixed emotions for residents of the Cherry Hill neighborhood.
The proposed Siena Villas complex would consist of one- and two-bedroom units for approximately $1,000 per month. To be located between State and Columbia streets, it would improve roads and traffic flow in the area, according to city staff agenda item documents.

However, residents expressed concerns about increases in traffic and parking problems the development would bring with it.

Orem Mayor Jerry Washburn said the issue before the Council is not to debate if something will be built there, but what will be built there. The best use of the property would be to have something that had the least amount of impact on the surrounding and existing communities, he said.

Developer Cameron Gunter said property could become retail space to maximize investor profits if the Siena Villas apartments are not approved by the city. Retail development would result in even higher levels of traffic than residential units would, he said.

Since State Street is owned by the state, direct access to the complex has been denied and residents would have to use Columbia for access to the development. This has residents concerned, but the Orem City Council was concerned about parking instead.

Orem city code requires at least 2.25 parking spaces per unit. There are 125 units proposed, and only 164 stalls available in the facility's parking lot. Developers hope to use the surrounding roads and a possible agreement with a nearby dentist office, which could provide 24 more parking slots after 5:30 p.m. The code however, requires parking to be provided for all hours of the day.

"We don't build a chapel for Easter Sunday," said Councilwoman Shiree Thurston. "No one likes to build a lot of asphalt, we understand. But it's still a concern."

The committee agreed to give the production approval if they could find a way to provide adequate parking for the future tenants.