Building from the fiscal challenges and quality of life concerns, the report identifies five strategic categories to confront the challenges of growth:
- Promoting efficient land use.
- Expanding transportation options.
- Preserving green spaces and natural assets.
- Preserving and improving community character.
- Avoiding undue taxpayer subsidy of new growth.
The discussions contained within these five categories are meant to help local governments plan for growth in a way that secures fiscal sustainability and promotes a high quality of life.
Finally, Utah Foundation surveyed dozens of cities across Utah to reveal the challenges and trends on the ground. The report examines the survey results and offers a series of bite-sized cases studies across the state where Utah cities are already deploying key features of the strategies under discussion.
Key findings of the report include:
- Nearly 76% of Utah local governments responding to a Utah Foundation survey noted that the need to increase road capacity was one of the greatest impediments to growth, with water infrastructure a close second.
- About 64% of Utah local governments surveyed said their residents expressed “high” or “extreme concern” over increasing residential density.
- Promoting efficient land use will require policymakers to seek strategic opportunities to increase density, encourage mixed-use development where appropriate and implement parking management strategies.
- Compared to 10 years ago, about 83% of local governments surveyed by Utah Foundation responded that they allow for higher-density developments and 72% allow for smaller lot sizes.
- About 95% of local governments surveyed by Utah Foundation zone for multi-family housing.
- About 83% of local governments surveyed by Utah Foundation noted that they zone for mixed-use development.
- Traditional main street / downtown properties can have far higher property values per square foot than suburban retail areas. Comparison properties in various Utah cities demonstrated a mixed-use property delivered $375 per square foot, compared to $37 for a big box store.
- Transit-oriented development, pedestrian friendly development features and interconnected street networks all offer opportunities to expand transportation options and reduce congestion.
- About 52% of local governments surveyed by Utah Foundation noted that they have zones to accommodate transit-oriented development.
- Preserving green spaces and natural assets is a key quality of life concern to Utahns.
- Utahns would like to see improvements to community spaces. Key policy areas to consider include place-based planning, programs to improve building conditions, and policies and investments to improve streetscapes.
- After adjusting for inflation, total impact fees decreased by 3% for multi-family units from 2007 to 2018, and by 13% for single-family units.
- About 68% of local governments surveyed by Utah Foundation use other funds along with impact fees to cover costs of new infrastructure, primarily to promote affordability.
- Communities across Utah are moving to create or promote higher-quality community spaces that more efficiently use land and include a mix of uses to help build the tax base. Walkable, transit-oriented developments allowing for higher densities are among them.