Community Design Projects

Can the Envision Utah process be embraced by communities throughout the Greater Wasatch Area?

In the fall of 1999, Envision Utah and the Utah Quality Growth Commission selected several cities along the Greater Wasatch Area to host site-specific Community Design Workshops conducted by Calthorpe and Associates to examine and discuss how Envision Utah growth strategies could be applied to development sites in their communities. The cities met with key stakeholders to discuss how quality growth principles could work on given sites. After hearing about specific development types, residents "problem-solved" by sitting at tables and working as a group to create a community view to develop the properties. Participants included landowners, neighbors, city council representatives, mayors, planners, developers and concerned citizens.

(NOTE: Please click on the links for the communities below to view an illustrative map for each community)

Brigham City / Perry looked at a mixed-use development with access to regional commuter rail and extensive preservation of orchards and wetlands.

Salt Lake City used the Envision Utah process to explore options for a transit-oriented development with housing, retail and office.

West Valley City is studying a multi-cultural center near the Jordan River with trails, services for senior citizens, an amphitheater and incorporating existing housing with new town homes, large-lot, standard-lot, and green court single family homes.

Provo is studying a pedestrian-oriented neighborhood that integrates compact housing and retail with a modern, ADA-compliant, intermodal transportation center. The plan includes the existing, but expanded, Amtrak station, access to regional rail service, Greyhound buses, UTA buses and taxis.

Sandy and Midvale are planning a site along the north-south TRAX line for a mixed-use transit-oriented development. Because the site crosses municipal borders, the cities are looking at a tax sharing agreement.