Provo councilman asks for land rezone

PROVO (Deseret News) — A Provo city councilman has asked the Utah County Commission to rezone more than 2,600 acres in Spanish Fork Canyon — a change that property owners don't want to see happen.

Steve Turley, a Provo councilman, appeared before county commissioners Tuesday to request a rezone of the land. In a letter to commissioners, Turley stated that "appropriate conservation of these properties is my ultimate goal."

The Utah County Planning Commission previously recommended the request be denied because the topography of the land near Diamond Fork is unsuitable for the sort of increased-density development the change would permit.

After learning of a contract dispute over ownership and use of the land, county commissioners decided to indefinitely delay any decision on the request.

Both parties involved — Turley and the Childs family — agree that the family borrowed money from Turley last year with plans to start a horse ranch on the land.

Written into the loan note is an option purchase the Childs' property in the event they didn't repay. The Deseret News obtained a copy of the option to purchase Tuesday.

"I just asked for collateral," Turley said, "and they offered the collateral of an option to purchase their land." Original Article