The Orem City Council weighed in on the project in a letter last week, saying it intends to express its opposition to the Vesper Amphitheater project at its Tuesday council meeting.

“We on the Orem City Council deeply value our longstanding relationship with Provo and respect the Provo City Council’s authority over land-use decisions within its borders,” said a letter addressed to Provo Mayor Marsha Judkins and the Provo City Council. “We do not typically weigh in on matters outside our city, but the impacts of the proposed Vesper Amphitheater on the health, safety, and welfare of Orem and its residents are too significant to ignore.”

Vesper Amphitheater, pitched as a 20,000-seat outdoor concert venue, was announced by members of the Osmond family on May 19. Applicants plan to build the amphitheater on 100.7 acres south of Timpanogos Park, with 34.23 acres of the property located on a gravel pit owned by the Provo Canyon Mining Company and 66.47 acres currently owned by Provo City.

The project was set to go before the Provo City Council last week, but the applicant moved to withdraw its current application and resubmit an amended proposal that further addresses issues such as the Critical Hillside Overlay Zone and parking requirements.

The project is within Provo city limits; however, the geography of the area is closely tied to Orem. Timpanogos Park, immediately to the north, is in Orem, and 800 North, a main roadway connecting Interstate 15 to U.S. 189 in Provo Canyon, runs through Orem.

In its letter to Provo, Orem leaders said they have several concerns despite the “hours of productive dialogue” between the applicants and Provo City. Orem cited light and sound pollution, impacts to Timpanogos Park and traffic impacts on U.S. 189 and 800 North as issues.

“A development of this scale cannot occur without significant and costly transportation improvements, many of which would directly affect Orem residents,” Orem said.

The city asked Provo to consider Orem’s concerns in its decision-making process. They also called for a joint effort from government stakeholders, including Utah County, MAG, the state of Utah, Orem and Provo, to build a long-term vision for Provo Canyon that “enhances the grandeur and recreational value of the canyon while thoughtfully considering the impacts of future development.”