On Wednesday, September 28 the Provo City Planning Commission voted 3-2 in favor of recommending that the general plan be changed so that Perry Homes can build a high density 218 unit assisted living community on 4200 North and University Avenue directly south of the Walden School.  This is a change from the longstanding General Plan which calls for low density, single family homes.

It is not too late to give your input.  Please fill out the short petition at the bottom of the page which will be sent to the Provo City Council Members who will make the final decision in a few short weeks.  

At the September 28 planning commission meeting all of the surrounding neighborhood chairs expressed emphatically that they were opposed to the project but it was still approved.  Let's make sure that the City Council hears our voice!  The surrounding neighborhoods are opposed to the project for the following reasons:

1)  NEIGHBORS WANT FAMILY FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD  Surrounding residents want to have the low density, single family housing that was assured them in the city's General Plan.  The surrounding residents recognize that even single family homes create an impact, but they also recognize the benefits that come with it. (stabilizing the school system, maintaining the residential character that is developed along University Avenue, reenergizing existing neighborhoods, etc.)  These benefits far outweigh any low impact benefits that come from an assisted living facility.

2)  SETS PRECEDENT FOR MORE HIGH DENSITY IN AREA  Opening the door to high density or commercial use of this land will set a precedent for further high density uses of the remaining property to the south that is owned by Perry Homes.  If they are unwilling to build residential homes on the proposed site for the assisted living facility we can expect that they will also attempt to build a high density or commercial project to the south.  Currently, the only access for the remaining property would be through the neighborhoods to the south.

3)  LOCAL SCHOOLS NEED MORE STUDENTS  The enrollment at our surrounding elementary schools has been dropping.  Many of the schools in he area are suffering not from overcrowding, but from shrinking student populations.  Several weeks ago the Daily Herald came out with an article that referenced this problem of shrinking enrollment in the northeast part of the city.  This is the last site for a large, family friendly neighborhood in the area that will add students to our schools.   We need to encourage residential development on the available parcels in the area in conformance with the General Plan if we are to maintain high quality schools within our neighborhood.

4)  COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC IS DANGEROUS FOR WALDEN SCHOOL  Other concerns include specific types of traffic that will conflict with the Walden School "drop off" and "pick up" zone that is shown in the picture below.  The main entrance to the assisted living community would use the same entrance as the Walden School.  It has been represented by Perry Homes that the assisted living facility will create less total traffic than a residential neighborhood.  They fail to mention that residential traffic involves small vehicles and more evenly disbursed traffic.  Our concern is that the traffic created by the assisted living community will frequently include very large commercial trucks and times of very heavy traffic. (bulk food delivery via semi truck, daily garbage bin trucks, frequent ambulance and fire truck visits, resident transportation bus, large entertainment gatherings, employee shift changes at same time, etc.)  

5)  OTHER OPTIONS TO FULFILL FUTURE NEEDS  Perry Homes has said that there will be a need in the future for additional assisted living in the area.  If there is a need for additional assisted living in the future there are other options to provide for seniors without changing the use of this neighborhood.  (eg. choose another site in Provo / Courtyard at Jamestown Assisted Living, which is .7 miles away, has plans already drawn up and room to expand with minimal impact if there is a need in the future)

MAKE SURE THAT THE BOX IS CHECKED BELOW THAT IS TITLED  "Show my name in the online signature list" at the end of the petition.

In addition, if you also want to email or call the council members directly please cut and paste the following link for their information: 

http://www.provo.org/council.members_main.html

Proposed Building

Proposed Location