Planning commission recommends Midvale Parks and Open Space Master Plan, including facilities plan, to city council

The Midvale Planning Commission voted Oct. 22 to recommend the city adopt a draft Parks, Trails and Open Space Master Plan and its associated impact fees facilities plan (IFFP).

Adam (last name not specified), Midvale staff, introduced the plan and said staff, engineering and consultants had worked for about a year on the draft. He said the plan inventories existing facilities, identifies gaps and outlines strategies for expanding and improving parks, trails and open space across the city.

Vince Alcott, director of landscape architecture at consulting firm MHTN, and Emily Singh, planner and community engagement specialist at MHTN, presented the draft plan, summarized public engagement and reviewed recommendations. Singh told commissioners the project received 234 survey responses and more than 150 in‑person interactions at outreach events; she said walking and biking trails consistently ranked near the top of resident priorities.

Key findings and recommendations presented to the commission included: - A service‑level gap east of Interstate 15: West of I‑15 is relatively well served; the area east of the freeway shows gaps in park and trail service. - Resident priorities: Strong demand for walking and biking trails, better crossing and sidewalk connectivity, and amenities such as dog parks, community gardens and splash pads. - Vision and guiding principles: The consultant team proposed a vision focused on safe access, strengthened connectivity and a diverse network of parks and linear open spaces, supported by five guiding principles (connectivity; innovative, multipurpose use; resilience and environmental stewardship; community‑centered planning; and a clear path to implementation). - Level of service and IFFP findings: Midvale currently has about 0.54 acres of park per 1,000 residents for purposes of the IFFP; the city manages roughly 80 park acres but only 20.67 acres were identified as impact‑fee eligible. The consultant projected a population growth of about 4,820 people over the next 10 years and estimated roughly $1.7–$1.8 million of facilities would be needed over the decade to maintain the existing level of service.

Singh said the IFFP does not set impact fees; it documents the facilities needed for the chosen level of service and provides the financial inputs a separate impact‑fee analysis would use.

Commission discussion touched on funding approaches and community appetite for new fees. One commissioner raised the survey’s final question about whether respondents’ preferences would change if taxes or fees rose, saying, "Would your answer change if your taxes went up?" Another commissioner expressed concern that repeatedly adding developer fees could discourage housing development and noted voters had rejected a tax measure in a past election. Commissioners also discussed grant funding and shared‑use agreements with schools or faith‑based institutions as alternatives to muni revenue or fees.

After discussion, a motion to recommend approval of the parks and open space master plan and the associated IFFP was made, seconded and approved by roll call. Vice Chair Erickson, Commissioner Tibbets, Commissioner Snow, Commissioner Luedtke and Commissioner Kasperian voted yes.

Next steps: The commission’s recommendation sends the draft plan and IFFP to Midvale City Council for consideration; staff and consultants said they will incorporate commissioner feedback and public comments into the final document prior to the council hearing.

Details - Plan: Midvale Parks, Trails and Open Space Master Plan and Impact Fees Facilities Plan (IFFP) - Public engagement: 234 online survey responses plus in‑person outreach and tabling at community events - Major priorities from outreach: trails/connectivity, crossings and sidewalks, park amenities and programming - Financial finding: $1.7–$1.8 million in facilities needed over 10 years to maintain current service level given projected growth

The commission closed the public hearing with no public comments and recommended the plan to city council.