Wasatch County hosted its first-ever interlocal symposium on Wednesday, where Olympic Games organizers, county leaders and municipal planners gathered to discuss planning for the 2034 Winter Olympics, open space and municipal and county land use.  The symposium is designed for residents to hear more information on key issues facing Wasatch County. The event was held in lieu of a regular Wasatch County Council meeting. A second symposium is planned for the fall.  County planner Austin Corry, Midway City planner Michael Henke and Heber City planner Tony Kohler sat on a panel to discuss land use tactics and development updates in their respective municipalities and in the county.  Right now, Wasatch County is in the midst of updating its General Plan, which was last updated in 2001. Corry pointed out that the current General Plan is largely outdated: written prior to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the Military Installation Development Authority’s presence in the county and before more recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic.  The General Plan is a document that dictates where development may or may not take place within the county over the next few decades. It clarifies the county’s intentions and goals. Land use is a large portion of what the General Plan outlines.  “When we’re talking about land use policy, the General Plan is really how elected officials tell the community what they plan to do,” Corry said.  He clarified that the policies outlined are not from the county planning department, but instead policies from the county’s elected officials.  Corry explained that the total county area encompasses just over 1,200 square miles. Around 28% of that space includes the unincorporated county. State and federal land makes up nearly 69% of the county, and the remaining 7% accounts for municipal areas. The General Plan also outlines preservation land — geologically or environmentally sensitive areas that aren’t suited for development.  “Although the county is somewhat large, we’re talking about a finite area of land use jurisdiction,” Corry said.  Just 12% to 14% of the 1,200 square miles are amenable to development. Corry said the Jordanelle Ridge area is a “strong economic driver” for the entire county. That’s due to the resort-oriented nature of the area.  “We’re not talking about agriculture in the Jordanelle Basin,” Corry said.  Corry said the General Plan works best as a roadmap with municipalities and the county are “all in agreement” on development areas and land use goals.  “As we work as communities, as we can communicate cross-jurisdictional networks, that’s where we’ll find our success,” Corry said.  Meanwhile, Heber City and Midway City are rife with development. Areas like the North Village in Heber City have seen growth in recent years. Councilors approved that annexation petition in a 4-1 vote in January 2025. Located near the intersection of S.R. 32 and U.S. 40, the North Village Crossings and Harvest Village properties include the construction of residential, commercial and hotel units and a gas station.  The Slope development (formerly Harvest Village) is still working through the final plat. The luxury community will be built in Heber City by 2029 and includes 100,000 square feet of retail space, a Hyatt Hotels Corporation hotel with 85 guest rooms, 62 private condominium units and 130 multi-family affordable workforce housing units for employees who work on the development.  The Angstrom Development Group estimated that The Slope will generate $4.45 million in tax revenue annually from the Andaz Heber Valley residences and hotel.  And the Jordanelle Ridge is a major development area, which includes aspects like a performing arts center. That is in the early planning stages and will live in the 40-acres that define the future “arts district.” It’s located near the Utah Valley University Wasatch County campus. About $15.6 million of funds will be used for the arts district.  In Midway, major projects include the Southill development, which is a property that was conditionally rezoned to C-2 (districts where the primary use of land is planned for commercial and service uses). That development is about 27 acres and includes seven buildings and 142 townhomes. With Midway’s emphasis on developers including preservation, the development also features nearly 8.5 acres of open space.  Midway City also has architectural requirements that fall in line with the “old European” feel of the current businesses.  “Southill is looking even better than the pictures,” Henke said.  As development in Heber City, Midway City and Wasatch County continues, the county’s General Plan will further guide where development may take place, preservation requirements and housing roadmaps.  The General Plan update has been underway for nearly one year. It is on target to be finalized this summer as long as there is enough time to analyze public feedback after the draft General Plan is released. The post Wasatch County, municipal planners lay out land use policies, updates at first interlocal symposium appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less