College housing subject to development law

A bill requiring colleges and universities to comply with municipal land use and development ordinances when building student housing near neighborhoods is being held for further study by the House Business and Labor Committee.

HB103, sponsored by Rep. Stephen D. Clark, R-Provo, was held because the intent of the bill perhaps does not cover the issues at hand.

"A number of new people in a neighborhood is very disruptive," Clark said. He said more people means increases in traffic and other municipalities which have a significant impact on communities.

The bill would make school-owned housing entities subject to city land use regulations when the project lies within 100 feet of privately owned residential property.

Clark said the issue was raised in Utah County where there are two major institutions for higher learning and several multiple-unit housing complexes lie within neighborhoods and cities. The bill addresses state-owned institutions, of which category neither university in Utah County falls.

The bill will be studied and amended to incorporate the issue at hand, a decision which Clark said "is a good way to handle these things."