"It could be short or it could be really, really long," Councilmember Cynthia Dayton said. "It depends on the issues that come up" and the number of residents who show up to comment.

Discussion about Joaquin Village certainly will take some time.

The village will have parking spots for about 65 percent of residents. The site is 150 yards from the south edge of BYU and city staff and the planning commission — both of which recommended that the City Council approve the project — believe the proximity to campus will reduce the number of students with cars.

They believe that combined with a future parking permit program, the parking will be adequate.

A city traffic study estimated the project would generate 3,000 more car trips a day.

A memo says those trips will lead to "intersection failing movements" at 500 North and University Avenue and 700 North and University Avenue, pushing traffic off main routes and onto local streets as motorists attempt to avoid delays.

Also, the addition of 1,200 trips a day to 600 North will push the roadway over the environmental capacity limit for a local street.

The same could happen on 600 East.

The City Council could approve the project tonight and leave those issues to be resolved by city staff later.

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com