Payson council, planning commissioners review 1,046‑acre Payson Parkway Area Specific Plan

Consultants from Mountainland Association of Governments and Psomas presented the Payson Parkway Area Specific Plan during a joint work session on March 4, 2026, outlining a study area of approximately 1,046 acres and a draft timeline that began with analysis in January 2025 and aims for design completion in May 2026. The plan anticipates a future Interstate‑15 interchange and the Payson Parkway corridor as central transportation and development features and proposes a mix of housing types, civic anchors and both natural and maintained open spaces.

The presentation included an economic and land‑use analysis showing that planned commercial capacity could attract regional shoppers because of I‑15 visibility and access, and a proposed street grid with arterials, collectors and local streets. Councilmember Ryan Rowley said higher density should be located “where it makes sense” and urged attention to effective water use in siting denser housing. Mayor William Wright reminded the group that the city must comply with state planning laws and warned that "not every stakeholder will receive exactly what they want" while encouraging balanced outcomes. Staff and commissioners raised technical questions about addressing and road naming and requested continued refinement of the plan’s transportation classifications and open‑space connections.

The presentation showed earlier concept versions and explained how feedback shaped the current draft; presenters said the plan is intended to give the city flexibility to respond to growth while preserving creeks and natural features as community assets. The planning team and council agreed to continue refining the plan ahead of its next design milestone in May.