Cedar Fort commissioners review draft general plan; consultants urge staffing, grant pursuit and sewer planning

GSBS Consulting presented a draft general plan to the Cedar Fort Planning Commission on Feb. 10, 2025, recommending three main strategies to guide growth over the next decade: strengthen staff capacity to pursue grants, build regional partnerships and secure strategic funding for infrastructure projects.

"My name is Erica Shamoleski. I’m with GSBS Consulting, and I’m the project manager for this project," said Erica Shamoleski, introducing a short slideshow intended to make the plan easier to read. The consultants said the plan’s five chapters combine state‑required elements (land use and transportation) with locally focused chapters on growth and infrastructure, economic development, and natural resources.

Consultants recommended hiring a full‑ or part‑time staff member to shepherd grant applications and coordinate technical studies. They pointed to specific funding opportunities: the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) was cited as having a planning grant opening in March for a planning advice program and septic‑density study; USDA Rural Development water and waste disposal programs and certain Department of Natural Resources drought‑resilience grants were also listed as possibilities for planning and construction financing.

On infrastructure, consultants urged the commission to consider a phased approach to move parts of the town from septic systems to sewer, using planning grants for preliminary engineering and loan programs for construction. "If you wanted to have something to act on right away and secure that grant funding, this is something that you could take advantage of," Shamoleski said of the DEQ opportunity.

Commissioners asked that language describing water be clarified. One participant noted the town’s historical water rights and a 1969 irrigation company agreement; consultants agreed to vet the history so future readers would not infer ownership or ongoing operational claims. The consultants also agreed to add annexation material, incorporate locally used road‑design standards into the transportation section, simplify the grant chart, and include a table of contents in the next draft.

The consultants said the future land‑use map was presented on a 10‑year horizon and largely unchanged because land‑use changes depend on infrastructure and funding. They also described an inland‑port incentive overlay as a tool to attract certain employers and to create bonding power and project financing for water and sewer lines without immediate zoning changes.

The commission asked the consultants to provide a revised draft incorporating the clarified water‑rights language, annexation maps, an 8.5x11 exhibit for rezoning notices, and the grant chart in an easier format. The consultants said a new draft could be ready in about two weeks.

The meeting included routine business: the commission approved prior meeting minutes in a voice roll call and later adjourned at about 8:20 p.m.

What’s next: consultants will deliver a revised draft for commissioner review; staff will circulate grant deadlines and contact information to the commission so the town can pursue DEQ and other funding opportunities.