After initial protests by residents when first presented, followed by months of review by the Downtown Advisory Board (DAB), Pleasant Grove's Downtown 2020 Action Plan was adopted by the City Council on Tuesday night.

The main topic of discussion at the council meeting was the height requirements in the mixed use overlay area. The Downtown Advisory Board recommended maximum heights in the area of 48 feet or 60 feet with a conditional use permit. However, city staff recommended a maximum height of 55 feet or 68 with conditional use. The staff recommendation was approved by the Planning Commission.

"We would like the heights and setbacks tied together," said Laurel Backman Riddle, DAB chairperson, noting that the combination of heights and setbacks are of great concern to the board members. Residents of the downtown area have voiced concern about the possibility of a tall building being built close to their property lines, according to Riddle.

Daniels voiced concern about including specifics such as height requirements and setbacks in a visionary plan. These could both be addressed in the ordinances.

In the end, council members voted to adopt the plan, including the height requirements recommended by the Planning Commission. It was also recommended that setbacks should be discussed with the height when considering the ordinances.

"They took almost all of our recommendations, but they were little, fine-tuning adjustments. They didn't take our height recommendation, but they did come down," said Riddle. The current height recommendation for the area is 55 feet permitted and 80 feet approval through conditional use permit.

Some of the key points of the plan are streetscape improvements, pedestrian paths and spaces, historic preservation or blending historic buildings with new developments, civic and government uses and parks and open space.

"The overall concept is that we want to enhance the downtown," said Ken Young, Community Development director.