Growth exploding in Orem and Provo

PROVO — A spirit of cooperation between the top elected leaders of Utah County's largest cities — Provo and Orem — reached new heights at lunch Friday.

Lewis Billings and Jerry Washburn, mayors of Provo and Orem, respectively, sat side-by-side at a Provo-Orem Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

The two were the guests of honor. They were there to give State of the City addresses.

Washburn, his arm in a sling, turned to Billings for help cutting his pork chops.

Billings didn't hesitate jumping into the role of an older sibling. He grabbed Washburn's plate, knife and fork, and carefully cut the meat into bite-size portions.

The helpful act seemed fitting, Washburn said, considering Provo in the past has acted like a "big sister" to smaller Orem.

"We have learned a lot from our older sister," said Washburn, who had surgery two weeks ago to repair a rotator cuff torn after a slip on ice. "We are proud of our older sister."

These days, however, Orem is standing on its own — and standing out in several areas, Washburn said. A major challenge for Orem is the city's population growth, he said.

"Provo and Orem and, indeed, Utah Valley are no longer secrets," he said. "We're having just an explosion of growth."

That growth, both mayors clarified, is not caused by "evil Californians" moving to Utah Valley. Here's one major reason the cities are growing: City officials count a high number of young couples who attend college in Utah County then decide to stay to rear a family.

Though employment opportunities are limited, Washburn said, jobs can be found.

Likewise, he said, development continues to move forward in Orem, though a sluggish economy and space limitations have kept the commercial industry from growing.

During 2003 in Orem, there was a 40 percent increase in applications for residential building permits but a 44 percent decrease for commercial building permits.

"It tells you that things in Orem in some areas are still growing and developing. And in other areas . . . we've hit a plateau," said Washburn.

He noted two projects Orem chiefs are happy to have in the city: The Gateway-like Midtown Village project now being built and the Parkway Crossing student apartment complex near Utah Valley State College.