Alta planners back pursuing regional grant and general-plan update; deadline Dec. 11 noted

Planning staff briefed the Alta Planning Commission on Nov. 19 about pursuing a regional Transportation Land Use Connection grant to fund a general plan update and complementary code amendments. Staff said applications are due Dec. 11 and recommended asking for a substantial consultant budget in the six-figure range to cover baseline analysis, outreach and code work.

"The applications are due December 11, so this is our last chance to talk to the planning commission," staff (Chris) told the commission, and urged commissioners to identify priorities the grant should address. Commissioners discussed priorities including activating the town-center commercial core, transportation and circulation, watershed and open-space protections, and public engagement. Several commissioners emphasized that funders favor strong public-engagement budgets and that a follow-up grant could support code changes flowing from the general-plan work.

The commission signaled support for submitting an application and for a brief letter of support from the planning commission chair to accompany the grant packet. Staff said the grant-funded work could begin as soon as July if awarded and that the commission and council would need to manage scope and expectations for consultant work. Commissioners asked staff to draft a vision statement and potential scope and to return with a recommended application budget and timeline. The discussion closed with broad agreement to proceed with an application and to have staff and the chair prepare materials needed by the Dec. 11 deadline.