Commission approves plan to replace two buildings at Missionary Training Center with condition

The commission voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a project plan to replace two buildings on the Missionary Training Center campus at 2005 North 900 East, clearing the way for a new cafeteria and administration building and a larger teaching building.

Nancy Robinson, the staff presenter for the item, told the commission that two neighborhood meetings were held before the application was filed and summarized staff analysis, saying staff "is comfortable with this plan and would recommend approval" provided that CRC comments are corrected and completed to the departments' satisfaction. Robinson noted the proposal removes existing structures and replaces them with new facilities designed to address safety and operational issues.

Andrew Feinberg, an architect and project manager with ZGF Architects, said the S1 cafeteria/administration building has seismic issues and the project will phase demolition so the existing cafeteria can remain in operation during construction. Feinberg described the new cafeteria as a two-story facility with additional serveries to reduce queuing and a reconfigured administration/teaching building intended to consolidate uses and add recreational and divisible assembly space.

Robinson and Feinberg described project metrics in staff materials: demolition of roughly 208,000 square feet of existing buildings and replacement with significantly smaller new buildings, a reduction in counted parking from about 555 stalls to 535 stalls under the revised calculation, and a substantial increase in on-site landscaping. Staff explained the parking calculation accounts for senior missionaries and staff ratios (one stall per two senior missionaries; roughly one stall per four employees), and concluded the campus would still have more stalls than strictly required by code.

Commissioners asked about construction sequencing, traffic and parking, and site security. Feinberg said demolition is expected to begin in the spring and that the two buildings will be constructed with overlap so existing operations can continue. George Rolfe, who identified himself as directing administration and operations at the Provo MTC, responded to a question about security and glass in the new designs, saying, "The glass itself, it's certainly not bulletproof, but it's thick enough to to to be able to protect somewhat," and that access is controlled with perimeter fencing and card access.

During discussion a commissioner urged the applicant and institutional neighbors to explore shared parking arrangements with the city and area institutions to help long-term parking and housing challenges. Commissioners generally praised the landscaping, tree retention and the plan's responsiveness to neighborhood concerns.

A motion to approve the item with the condition that CRC comments be corrected to the departments' satisfaction passed unanimously. The commission recorded multiple "Aye" votes and the chair announced the motion passed; staff must verify that CRC concerns are addressed before final administrative sign-off.

Next steps: staff will confirm CRC comment resolution and the applicant may proceed with the phased demolition and construction schedule the parties described, with demolition anticipated to start in the spring.