Regional Growth Committee members prioritize transportation, housing and parks in annual orientation

The Wasatch Front Regional Council's Regional Growth Committee met in Sandy on March 20, 2025, to review the committee's role and ask members what topics the committee should prioritize in the coming year.

Ted Knowlton, deputy director at the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), told the committee the panel serves as a steering committee for the Wasatch Choice vision and “focuses more on planning, focuses more on long-range issues, focuses on the coordination of transportation and growth.”

The committee was shown the vision's four core strategies — transportation choices, housing options, parks and public spaces, and city and town centers — and invited to respond via a live poll. Committee members and participating local officials emphasized transportation and housing as top priorities, and several members urged greater attention to parks and public spaces as a means to manage growth and preserve quality of life.

Laura Hansen, representing the governor's office, argued parks and public spaces deserve more emphasis because “they're expensive” and “don't generate tax revenue,” creating a local funding disincentive. She suggested exploring state grant programs, including the state's outdoor recreation grants, to support local park acquisition and design.

Julie Fulmer, mayor of Vineyard, raised community concerns about “smart city” technologies and the potential for surveillance tied to downtown connectivity projects, saying public outreach and clear messaging are critical to countering local resistance to change.

Knowlton described the committee's three main focus areas — planning and analytics, implementation and engagement — and explained the regional transportation plan cycle. He said 2025 is the year for developing a preferred scenario for transportation and locally derived land-use visions, with phased implementation to follow in 2026 and adoption targeted for 2027.

Committee members asked staff to collect and share the poll results and public comments with the committee and to consider future presentations on public outreach strategies, green space preservation, and advanced mobility topics.

The committee heard that its role also includes advising technical advisory committees made up of local planners and coordinating station-area plan certifications and other local land-use efforts. Members asked staff to bring forward opportunities for education and communications training for elected officials to help address local concerns about growth.

Looking ahead, the committee agreed to retain transportation and housing as primary near-term focuses while continuing outreach on parks/public spaces and public engagement strategies. WFRC staff said they would compile the feedback and circulate it to committee members.

Less critical administrative business on the agenda — including approval of meeting minutes and meeting scheduling — was completed by voice vote before the discussion and polling.