Utah County courts planning for future growth

PROVO — If you love standing in lines, feeling squished and waiting for hours, this story isn't for you.

But for those who appreciate efficient, expanded court services, the Administrative Office of the Courts wants you to keep reading.

Court officials know that Utah County's population is growing, especially in the northwest area, and that such growth is putting a strain on the judges, employees and buildings in 4th District Court.

That's why Utah County is near the top of a "to-expand" list, said Alyn Lunceford, facilities manager for the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Every year, the AOC presents a five-year plan to the Legislature detailing their financial needs, including a building plan.

Right now the top need is Ogden's juvenile court, followed by facilities in Provo, which is part of the 4th District. Next in line are Cedar City District Court and Ogden District Court.

In a recent meeting with the Judicial Council, Lunceford and architect Peter Moyes, a principal with MHTN Architects, looked at four options for expanding courts in Utah County.

The different plans involved having two main judicial centers in Provo and American Fork, or one main center in Provo with "spokes" or smaller courts around the perimeter, including one west of Utah Lake. However, the best and council-approved solution was the "linear" approach, which places courtrooms along the I-15 corridor.

In this approach, Moyes explained that Provo's current building at 125 N. 100 West, would get four additional courtrooms in the next five years, with the other 4th District sites getting additions over the next decade.

Then, by 2030, a new large court would be built in northern Utah County, preferably between I-15 and the future Mountain View Corridor.

"(We are) trying to … keep a long-enough vision so we don't get to a point where we don't have the ability to serve the public's need for courts," Lunceford said.

The planned new north Utah County courtroom would have eight courtrooms, with two devoted to juvenile proceedings.

Despite the growth in Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs, having a courtroom too far west wouldn't serve the north east area of the county, Moyes said, and building two large courts in the north, one in the west and one farther east, would just duplicate expensive services.

E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com