Orem council intent on limiting tent-like structures

(Daily Herald) The Orem City Council on Tuesday considered limiting tensioned-membrane structures (they look like giant tents) primarily to manufacturing zones in the city, but opted to put off any final tweaks to the proposal until next month.

Orem City Council members appeared to be in agreement that so-called tent-style construction is not the look the city wants, but they wanted more time before passing a law to limit the aesthetically challenged structures. The structures aren't currently addressed under city code.

In September 2009, a site plan for Christ Evangelical Church that featured the controversial tent-style buildings was approved for church property on Sandhill Road south of University Parkway. The city's legal staff advised the council at the time that the use of the structures in the case was justified by a federal statute preventing cities from imposing zoning requirements that put a "substantial burden" on the religious exercise of a person, religious assembly or institution.

A church leader said last fall that they intended to move ahead with a plan to purchase the tensioned-membrane construction as buildings of worship from Spring Instant Structures, a West Jordan company that produces economical alternatives to traditional construction.

Original Article