Regional Growth Committee recommends certification of station-area plans for six cities

The Wasatch Front Regional Council’s Regional Growth Committee voted unanimously on Oct. 16 to recommend that the full council certify station-area plans, resolutions of prior action and resolutions of impracticability submitted by six cities: Murray, Riverton, Draper, South Salt Lake, West Valley City and Woods Cross. The committee’s recommendation covers 14 individual station areas.

Committee members and city representatives said the certified plans will help guide future housing and infrastructure investment around rail and bus rapid transit stations. Byron Head, Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) staff, told the committee that station-area plans are intended to focus growth near transit and emphasized the program’s implementation requirement, including a five-year implementation plan for each certified station area.

City planners and elected officials described constraints and design responses for specific station areas. Murray planning manager Zach Smallwood explained Murray’s use of a resolution of impracticability for two small parcels adjacent to the Jordan River and for a Meadowbrook area parcel occupied by a granite business that has no plans to relocate. Riverton’s development services director Jason Lethbridge said Riverton’s resolution of impracticability centered on land within a meander corridor and an adjacent Salt Lake County golf course, making practical redevelopment unlikely. Jonathan Weidenhamer, South Salt Lake’s community and economic development director, outlined a 200-acre Central Point station plan and an S-Line area that will use HTRZ (Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone) funding to support public amenities; he noted a planned $20 million bond issuance supporting about 2,000 housing units, roughly 750 of which are intended to be affordable units at various income bands. West Valley City described three distinct station environments — Fairbourne/West Valley Central, Decker Lake and Redwood Junction — each with different development expectations, from mixed-use and entertainment uses to industrial job-focused areas. Woods Cross staff described moving density away from a nearby refinery and toward western parcels, and Draper staff outlined plans for Vista (the Frontrunner station), Kimbels Lane and Crescent View station areas, including existing transit station district zoning and a planned development agreement for Kimbels Lane requiring workforce housing.

WFRC staff told the committee that, across the Wasatch Front, adopted station-area plans now support a substantial number of potential homes: staff noted that certified plans would support over 75,000 new homes across the region and that WFRC had certified 58 station areas to date with more under consideration. Committee members and staff also pointed to coordination with UTA, UDOT and local governments for connectivity and implementation, including trail completions, pedestrian crossings and possible pedestrian bridges in constrained sites.

After discussion, Mayor Monica Zoltanski moved to recommend certification of the resolutions of impracticability, station-area plans and resolutions of prior action presented that day for the six cities. Chair pro tem Lorraine Kamalu seconded the motion. The committee voted in favor and the WFRC council will consider final certification at its Oct. 23 full meeting.

The committee packet and the plans themselves remain available in WFRC meeting materials for the Oct. 16 meeting; staff asked cities to continue implementation work and to pursue funding and interagency coordination to carry projects from plan to construction.

The committee’s recommendation is advisory to the Wasatch Front Regional Council; final certification is scheduled for the council meeting on Oct. 23.