North Ogden planning commissioners receive training on new state-required water-use element; staff cite storage, metering and secondary-water constraints

The North Ogden City Planning Commission on June 4 received a staff training and draft outline of a state-required water use and preservation element that cities must add to their general plans by the end of 2025 under recent state legislation.

Scott Hess and Ryan Nunn presented the item and asked the commission for initial feedback on a short draft section the city staff plans to refine with the Division of Water Resources, secondary-water providers and culinary-water operators. "It's likely we will cancel the July second planning commission meeting," Hess told the commission, noting schedule constraints around community events and additional hearings needed on the draft.

The draft, which staff described as a short, five-page element, lays out four required topics: an analysis of how permitted development affects water demand and infrastructure; methods to reduce per-capita consumption in future development; methods to reduce per-capita consumption in existing development; and opportunities for the municipality to modify its own operations to reduce waste. Hess summarized the purpose language included in the draft: "Water is a critical resource for the health, economy and sustainability of North Ogden," and said the plan will try to align local land-use practice with state and regional goals.

Why it matters: Senate Bill 110 (as discussed in the training) directs first- through fourth-class Utah cities and all counties to adopt a water-use element in their general plans; staff said the statutory deadline is the end of 2025. The commission and staff discussed how that requirement interacts with other recent state planning mandates and with local…