For some Utah homeowners, a dreamy mountain view was a big part of what made their home extra appealing. Now, a massive backyard structure is rising behind their homes, blocking parts of that view and, residents say, cutting off sunlight—all, reportedly, with little warning.
According to KSL, the structure in question has been described as a garage or barn. It is going up behind a home in American Fork, right along the border with Lehi. Residents told KSL it is expected to reach about 35 feet high and span more than 11,000 square feet.
And that size is not just an estimate from neighbors staring up at the beams. American Fork City records put the structure at 11,146 square feet on a one-acre property.
The city approved the project months before construction reached this point. Now that neighbors can see just how large it is, they are asking city leaders to take another look.
Then the Beams Started Going Up
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Dale Stewart, whose backyard borders the property, told KSL that residents woke up one morning last week to see tall beams rising behind their homes.
The neighborhood had offered broad views of Mount Timpanogos. Now, residents say the new structure is cutting into those views. Homeowner Charlee Carn also told KSL she worries it will block sunlight because of how close it sits to the backyard fences.
“We’re all just kind of dumbfounded,” shared Stewart, “like what is happening right now. Nobody had any notice.”
While residents dubbed it a barn or garage, city records formally list it as a residential accessory structure. American Fork City meeting minutes from April show that the applicant signed a covenant—or formal agreement—stating that the structure would not be used as a residence.
The City Had Already Signed Off
American Fork’s Development Review Committee reviewed the project on April 6. Because the structure is larger than 750 square feet, its site plan required committee approval, according to city meeting records.
The committee approved it unanimously, with conditions listed in the staff report. The minutes show officials discussed the building’s size and access during the review. Fire Marshal Mat Sacco raised the possibility of requiring sprinklers because parts of the structure could be difficult for firefighters to reach. Fire Marshal Sacco noticed a restroom in the building, suggesting water should already be there for the system.
Once neighbors saw the project rising behind their homes, they took their concerns to the American Fork City Council on Aug. 25. Mayor Brad Frost told KSL that he was just learning about the project and planned to review its size and impact.