Holladay consultants present draft general plan update; commission to continue review

Delaney Sillman, a planner with Logan Simpson, presented the draft Holladay general plan update to the Holladay Planning Commission on Sept. 30, 2025, outlining the project's three-phase process and the public engagement that informed the draft.

"I'm Delaney Sillman. I work for Logan Simpson, a consulting firm that the city has hired to help with the general plan update," Sillman said, opening the presentation. She described the consultant team's work since October 2024 and said the draft reorganizes the document to improve readability and link vision principles directly to chapter titles.

The presentation emphasized several changes from the previous plan: a new water element required by the state, clearer future land-use categories that include suggested density ranges and the applicable zones, and improved organization of goals, policies and implementation actions. Sillman said the water element uses gallons per capita per day (gpcd) to assess demand and coordinates with service providers such as Salt Lake Public Utilities, Holladay Water Company and the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District to compare supply and interim targets.

Consultants also demonstrated a live, interactive general plan portal that links chapter text and maps to GIS-based existing-conditions data. "This is the Holladay general plan portal," Sillman said; the portal shows building age, assessed housing prices, planned sidewalks and trail miles, and other indicators intended for periodic updates so the plan's data stays current.

Commissioners asked for clarifications on the time horizons used in the water analysis (the state's 2065 goals versus the plan's 10-year review cycle) and on how density ranges relate to existing zone districts and rezoning processes. Sillman reiterated that the plan presents assumptions based on a build-out scenario and that zoning changes would still require rezoning hearings.

The presentation summarized engagement metrics the team used while drafting: roughly three pop-up events with nearly 300 participants, one questionnaire with about 244 responses in an early phase, additional visioning events and a later questionnaire with 151 responses, plus steering committee meetings. Consultants said key themes from outreach included preserving neighborhood character, improving walkability, protecting parks and tree canopy, encouraging responsible infill and supporting the local economy.

The commission opened a public hearing and heard one in-person comment (see separate article). After discussion, commissioners requested a highlighted, side-by-side comparison of changes from the previous plan, and asked the consultants and staff to provide a marked PDF to speed review. The commission voted to continue formal review and adjourn the meeting so the commission and public can provide further written comments.

Next steps: consultants agreed to provide a highlighted comparison document within days; the City Council was told it should expect the commission's recommendation in early November. The Planning Commission will continue its chapter-by-chapter review at upcoming meetings.