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 city input to the League is March 19.

Waldrop said the plan seeks common goals and shared metrics so state and local policy pull in the same direction. “We don’t want to talk about tactics. We don’t want to argue about how we’re doing things. That comes later,” Waldrop said. He also said rural housing needs should be treated separately from Wasatch Front solutions.

Staff and board members discussed several bills and policy pilots connected to the plan. League staff highlighted ongoing work on a UDOT surplus land pilot that would use state-owned parcels (often near transit and freeway interchanges) to pilot starter condos priced between $250,000 and $350,000, and said other surplus state and federal lands could be considered. Waldrop referenced potential use of School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) parcels and federal BLM/Forest Service acres near cities as "low-hanging fruit" for development.

League staff also reviewed several housing bills under early discussion. House Bill 37 remains position pending as staff and members work to reconcile reporting metrics, ownership-related provisions and regional alignment with the statewide plan. House Bill 90 was amended that morning to remove a prior provision allowing housing by right in commercial areas and to change the definition of small lots by right from 4,000 square feet to 6,000 square feet in certain counties; staff said the amendment narrowed the bill’s scope but recommended continued caution. Staff noted SB152 (parking/garage proposals) remains opposed as drafted; Senate and House sponsors are continuing discussions.

Why it matters: League staff said a unified set of goals and consistent metrics will shape later legislation and local impacts — including infrastructure needs and financing. Cities may see proposals that change minimum lot sizes, parking requirements and where housing is allowed by right; cities were urged to provide concrete feedback through the Phase 1 Qualtrics form so staff can aggregate and present city positions to state leaders.

What’s next: League staff will collect city responses, aggregate them, and share results with the housing team led by Waldrop and Laura Hanson, the League’s senior adviser for long-range planning. Additional legislative proposals are expected as Phase 2 of the plan unfolds in spring.

Votes at this meeting relevant to housing: The League’s bill tracker (which lists positions on housing and other bills) was approved by LPC members at the end of the meeting; the motion to approve the tracker passed (motion and second recorded, outcome approved).