Y. to restrict singles to a 2-mile block

PROVO — Starting in April, Brigham Young University will require all single students to live within a block two miles by two miles, with the campus at the center of the block.

And if Provo City Councilwoman Cindy Clark can help it, the city will restrict all construction of new student apartment complexes to that area — if not even closer to BYU.

Clark floated the idea of a city-imposed moratorium on new student apartment complexes during a meeting on Tuesday.

She found no allies for an absolute moratorium but unanimous support for the idea of restricting where new complexes can be built.

"I feel we are in control," City Councilwoman Barbara Sandstrom said.

Clark said the idea of a moratorium wasn't intended to scotch plans for a Joaquin Village, the 238-unit complex proposed for the old Joaquin Elementary School site two blocks south of campus — well inside the BYU boundary.

Joaquin developers will present their proposal to the City Council on March 6.

"I'm fine with the Joaquin project," Clark said, "though there are concerns there with parking and the impact on the neighborhood."

Not only is Joaquin inside the BYU boundary, it also is within a city zoning boundary informally known as the South Campus Area Master Plan, or SCAMP, where high-density student housing is permitted. That area extends only from the BYU campus down to 500 North.

The only other place where Provo zoning laws allow high-density apartment complexes is in the downtown area.

Officially, SCAMP died in 2002 before the council ever voted on it, but since then the council has implemented much of the plan through other ordinances.

"In my opinion, they've accomplished everything they want and more," said ArrowStar CEO Wayne Ross, who is developing Joaquin Village.

Several council members agreed.

"High-density student housing is only allowed in SCAMP," Cindy Richards said. "If we only want it in one place, then we only need to follow our code and general plan. Our general plan says low density everywhere but there and downtown."

The March 6 City Council meeting is scheduled to include a public hearing on Joaquin Village. The proposed project would house 952 students, each in his or her own bedroom.

"We have tried in every way to design and develop this and obtain the zoning suggested in the SCAMP proposals several years ago," Ross said. "Studies then showed where high-density residential housing is needed and where the school and community would like to see it. We've tried to accomplish what everyone through the years said they would like to see."