Outline of JW Voting Record -- 22-24

Outline of Jeff Whitlock's Voting Record

Jeff Whitlock was on the Provo City Planning Commission from 2022 to 2025. He voted on zone changes, text amendments, concept plans, project plans, conditional use permits, and variances. He made recommendations to the Municipal Council. Here are links to the videos where he cast the VOTES:

ISSUE #1 – ALLOWING CITYWIDE ADUs

Jeff Whitlock supported Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), CITYWIDE, in all neighborhoods.

EXAMPLES:

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  • 2nd Proposal to allow citywide ADUs
    LINK: Planning Commission / September 28, 2022 timestamp – 6:46
    Jeff stated, “I am very for this,” and voted in favor of allowing citywide ADUs. timestamp – 26:00

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  • Proposal to make it more difficult for landlords to violate owner-occupancy rule, all neighborhoods
    LINK: Planning Commission, October 23. 2024 timestamp 1:07:38
    Jeff voted against the code changes to regulate illegal ADUs.

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  • Proposal to add ADUs to a single-family area, Foothills Neighborhood
    LINK: AUDIO ONLY, Match 27, 2024 timestamp 1:27:31
    (There is no sound on Youtube video for this item.)
    Jeff voted in favor of the ADU Overlay Zone.

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ISSUE #2– NOT FOLLOWING CITY CODE

Jeff Whitlock supported development plans that

did not comply with adopted rules.

EXAMPLES:

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  • Proposal for a variance to building height limit from 35’ to 80’ for a 225,000 sf office building, Riverbottoms Neighborhood
    LINK: Planning Commission / February 22, 2023 timestamp: 8:45
    LINK: REPORT OF ACTION, February 22, 2023
    Jeff supported the increased height limit and voted in favor of the development.
    The Council later continued the item pending a meeting with the neighborhood.

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  • Proposal for a 29% parking reduction, contrary to the requirements for the existing zone. Joaquin Neighborhood
    LINK: Planning Commission / July 26, 2023 timestamp 37:01
    Jeff argued in favor of reducing the parking requirement and voted for the development.

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ISSUE #3 – IGNORING ADOPTED PLANS and RECOMMENDATIONS

Jeff Whitlock supported developments that did not comply with the General Plan, the Area Specific Plans, and the recommendations of Staff and city departments.

EXAMPLES:

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  • Months later, Turley brought a revised proposal back to the Commission
    LINK: Planning Commission / April 12, 2023 timestamp: 2:06
    Jeff voted in favor of the development – again.
    The Council denied it – again.

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  • Proposal to adding “Meeting Halls” to 2 agricultural zones, which did not comply with the recommendations of the General Plan or the Southwest Area Plan, all agricultural areas
    LINK: Planning Commission / July 12, 2023 timestamp 8:49
    LINK: (REPORT OF ACTION, July 23, 2023)
    Jeff voted in favor of allowing “meeting halls for rent” in a residential zone.

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ISSUE #4 : APPROVING PROJECTS WITH NO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

Jeff Whitlock approved developments without agreements in place to ensure that the developers would keep their commitments

EXAMPLES:

  • Proposal for a 4-story office/commercial building next to Provo River with no development agreement to ensure public access to the river, Riverbottoms Neighborhood
    LINK: Planning Commission / January 17, 2024 timestamp: 41:14
    LINK: OF ACTION, January 17, 2024
    Jeff voted in favor of the development without guarantees to protect access to the river.

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  • Proposal for a 266-unit subdivision without a development agreement. Sunset and Lakewood Neighborhoods
    LINK: Planning Commission / October 23, 2024 timestamp 1:38:31
    Jeff voted in favor of the zone change and the concept plan without guarantees.

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  • Proposal for two additional townhomes behind an existing home in a single-family neighborhood, Maeser Neighborhood
    LINK: REPORT OF ACTION, Nov 13, 2024
    Jeff voted in favor of the zone change and the concept plan without guarantees.

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ISSUE #5 – FAILURE TO SUPPORT CITIZENS

Jeff Whitlock voted to approve projects that did not follow the recommendations of various volunteer committees and boards. He voted without neighborhood meetings being held. He approved developments after changes had been made to their proposals since the neighborhood meetings, so that the proposals that were voted on were significantly different from the ones the neighborhoods had seen.

EXAMPLES:

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  • Proposal to change 4 homes into 8 units in a single-family area, Joaquin Neighborhood
    Jeff Whitlock voted in favor of the redevelopment.

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  • Proposal for a 66-unit condo complex, that did not meet the General Plan’s recommendation, North Timpview Neighborhood
    LINK: STAFF REPORT, March 10, 2024
    Jeff Whitlock voted in favor of the concept, despite the recommendation of citizens.

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  • Proposal to redevelop a single home when the entire area around the project needed redevelopment, Carterville Neighborhood
    LINK: Planning Commission / January 8, 2025 timestamp 21:20
    Jeff voted in favor of the change, despite the area needing redevelopment on a much larger scale.

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ISSUE #6 – OVERLOOKING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Jeff Whitlock had chances to address environmental issues on the Planning Commission, but didn’t.

EXAMPLES:

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  • Proposal to limit the use of artificial turf in front yards. CITYWIDE IMPACT, all neighborhoods
    LINK: Planning Commission / February 28, 2024 timestamp 3:02
    Jeff Whitlock voted that artificial turf should be treated like mulch, rocks, or natural ground cover.

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  • Proposal to remove an entire hill for a subdivision, despite requirements of the “Critical Hillside Ordinance,” and before critical studies had been completed to determine if the project was even feasible, Pleasant View
    LINK: Planning Commission / March 27, 2024 timestamp: 1:32:16 (There is no sound on the Youtube video)
    LINK: March 27, AUDIO ONLY
    LINK: REPORT OF ACTION, March 27, 2024
    Jeff voted to approve the project before the geotechnical study was done or any of the other environmental concerns were addressed.

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  • Proposal to create a new “Transfer of Development Rights Overlay Zone” (TDR) for 70 properties in Oak Hills, Indian Hills, & Sherwood Hills
    LINK: Planning Commission / May 22. 2024 timestamp 19:55
    Jeff Whitlock voted to approve the rezone.