State housing strategic plan rolled out to cities; staff ask for city input by March 19

State housing officials and League staff on Monday introduced Phase 1 of a statewide housing strategic plan and asked city representatives to provide feedback by March 19.

Steve Waldrop, governor senior adviser for housing, told the Utah League of Cities and Towns' Local Policy Committee that the state has shifted into a new era on market-rate housing. “The median cost for a home is now over 6 times the median income,” Waldrop said, adding the state’s housing supply was behind demand by an estimated 5,000–7,000 units last year.

League staff described Phase 1 as the part of the work that sets goals and metrics; tactics and bills will follow in later phases. Cameron (League staff) said the Phase 1 link and a Qualtrics feedback form would be sent to attendees after the meeting and that staff would aggregate city responses for state leaders. The deadline for…