The future of a small parcel of land in Orem will be a little clearer in two months after the Nov. 6 general election.

After collecting enough signatures, Proposition 5 was created to be on the ballot for Orem residents to vote on. The measure will appear on the ballot as follows:

Proposition #5:

On February 13, 2018, the Orem City Council passed Ordinance No. O- 2018-0005 to rezone 9.58 acres at approximately 1000 South 400 West from the R8 residential zone to the PD-48 student housing zone. The PD-48 zone allows the development of a student housing village adjacent to Utah Valley University. The zone change will take effect only if approved by voters.

Are you for or against the zone change taking effect?

For ______ Against ______

The proposition itself deals with one piece of property adjacent to the Utah Valley University campus, where approximately 90 percent of the property is surrounded by UVU-owned land, according to the university.

The controversy, for those that have not heard the last several years play out, is that the owner and developer of this 9.58-acre parcel would like to build housing exclusive to the university environment to meet the market’s needs. The mixed-use development would include retail, as well as the closest thing to “on-campus” housing for up to 1,600 students.

Given the current environment towards high-density housing (and renters) it has been met with resistance from some neighbors and residents across the city who have perhaps only pieces of the truth or been sold on the fact that the development signals the impending doom of single-family housing because high-density developments will overtake the city — which is hardly the case given the current freeze.

Some concerns revolve around street traffic and traffic safety; at the core of the development is its walkability to the campus and proximity to new mass transit, which the university says has already alleviated some parking and commuter congestion since UVX’s start in August.

Due to the extreme proximity of the university’s campus, the developer’s willingness to incorporate neighborhood feedback in multiple rounds of building plans and the university’s growing student base (which are the valley’s very own children) we are “for” Proposition 5. It is a logical venture for that exact piece of property immediately surrounded by the campus. Despite concerns of the university’s expanding footprint, the university has stated that it has no interest in the neighborhood beyond the Palos Verdes property — the university is looking west to Vineyard for much of its future growth as transit and a footbridge are put into place.

While no surprise, UVU and its Board of Trustees issued a statement this week also informing Orem voters that the university was “for” Proposition 5.

“Proposition 5 is only about upholding Orem City Council’s vote to allow student housing on the land known as Palos Verdes,” the trustees said in the statement. “It is not about high-density housing issues throughout Orem.”

UVU also claims that studies show student housing in close proximity to campus increases student engagement, retention and graduation rates. The university believes passing Proposition 5 to allow zoning for the development will improve students’ learning experience, mitigate traffic issues and preserve the integrity of the surrounding neighborhoods.

Should Woodbury Corp. (who owns University Place) and PEG Development, current owners of the property, not obtain the zoning status on the ballot in November, Alpine School District is the one who loses to the tune of $400,000 in yearly property tax revenue. Ultimately, UVU can purchase the property and work with developers — but it would be owned by the state and exempt from taxes and consequently all benefits to the city and school district would be removed.