Planning commission approves Midvale Water Use and Preservation element for council review

The Midvale City Planning Commission voted to approve the Water Use and Preservation Element of the city's General Plan and forward the recommendation to the city council.

Planning staff explained the state legislature requires municipalities to prepare a water-planning element; the draft sets a planning horizon to 2060 and models future demands in equivalent residential connections (ERCs). Staff said Midvale currently has adequate supplies but projected growth and densification will likely require the city to purchase additional water and consider related infrastructure investments. "If you see that growth like it's projected, we do need to, as the city, purchase quite a bit of additional water," one planner said.

Staff also described coordination with local water providers; the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District's conservation standards and rebate programs (such as localized turf-removal rebates) were cited as tools to help reduce demand. The presenter referenced the Great Salt Lake and watershed concerns as part of the policy rationale: "...whatever a city saves does arrive at the Great Salt Lake," staff said, describing the statewide importance of conservation.

The commission opened and closed a public hearing with no speakers and then approved the element by roll-call vote. Chair Anderson, Vice Chair Erickson, Commissioner Snow, Commissioner Liedtke and Commissioner Kasperian recorded yes votes.

The commission and staff discussed process timing: if the planning commission does not issue a recommendation within 30 days, state procedure treats it as a recommendation for denial and the item moves to council. Staff noted the commission's recommendation and minutes carry weight with council, but the council has final authority on adopting the general plan element.