Public Review and Comment Period Open Until May 22

Wasatch County (April 29, 2026) - Wasatch County today announced the release of the 2026 General Plan Update draft, a community-driven roadmap that balances responsible growth and preservation of the County’s distinctive rural character and long-standing values. The plan is the result of a year-long collaborative effort that sets clear expectations for how the County will steward land, infrastructure, and quality of life for future generations.

The update process began in March 2025 with a kickoff meeting, followed by open houses, community surveys, and work sessions with a Citizen Advisory Committee throughout the fall of 2025. Input from hundreds of residents and stakeholders shaped the plan’s priorities, goals, and direction.

“Residents deserve to know what to trust their leaders to do,” said Wasatch County Council Chair Erik Rowland. “The General Plan is our social contract with the people of Wasatch County. For the city leaders, this plan is the County’s way of showing the city our intentions, so they aren’t guessing what the County might do at their borders. It ensures our regulations and budgets are aligned with a vision we’ve all had a hand in shaping.”

Wasatch County’s last comprehensive general plan update was completed in 2001. 

“Our last comprehensive General Plan update happened before the 2002 Olympics, before the Jordanelle Parkway was built, before MIDA arrived, and long before COVID-19 changed growth patterns statewide,” said Planning Commission Chair Charles Zuercher. “A General Plan is fundamentally about expectation management, and when the landscape shifts this dramatically, it’s our responsibility to re-evaluate the plan so it reflects current realities and guides future decisions with clarity.”

Throughout the process, the County emphasized three commitments:
1. Respect community sentiment – Honor what residents value most about living in Wasatch County.
2. Acknowledge historical context – Learn from the County’s past and unique identity.
3. Be responsible for future generations – Make decisions that preserve opportunity and quality of life over time.

While growth brings physical changes, the plan emphasizes that the community’s core values can remain and that the places and experiences that define Wasatch County should be protected. The General Plan prioritizes working together with cities, special service districts, regional partners, landowners, and residents to ensure decisions in one jurisdiction strengthen the whole by:
• Managing growth by directing it away from sensitive areas and helping cities achieve their visions of vibrant downtowns.
• Keeping rural separation in unincorporated areas to preserve community identity by providing the “connective tissue” and agricultural buffers that keep our areas distinct.
• Treating roads and trails as critical, shared systems that connect neighborhoods, cities, and destinations across jurisdictions, reinforcing safety, access, and recreation as countywide priorities.
• Utilizing a variety of strategies that acknowledge the diversity of areas throughout the county.

“Preserving open, rural spaces in the unincorporated land between communities helps cities to focus on their own unique identity and avoid the conurbation that you see on the other side of the mountain,” said Wasatch County Planner Austin Corry. “With roads and trails that knit our communities together, and land-use patterns that respect the natural environment, we can be intentional about how growth happens rather than simply letting growth dictate our next chapter.”

Both the Executive Summary and General Plan drafts are available on the Wasatch County website at wasatchcounty.gov/generalplan.

Next Steps:
• Public Review and Comment Window: The plan will be available for public review and comment until Friday, May 22. During this period, residents and stakeholders are encouraged to provide public comment using the feedback form on wasatchcounty.gov/generalplan.
• Open House: An open house will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m., in the Wasatch County Library Bowcutt Room to learn about the plan, ask questions, and share feedback.
• Public Hearing & Potential Adoption: Following the review and public comment period, the Wasatch County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and, if recommended, send the General Plan update to the Wasatch County Council to consider adoption.

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About the Wasatch County General Plan
The General Plan is Wasatch County’s long-range policy guide for land use, transportation, housing, public services, environmental stewardship, open space and recreation and economic development. It establishes the vision, goals, and policies that guide master plans and local area plans, and the implementation of those plans through land use code, engineering standards, architectural design standards, and other land use decisions. Learn more about the Wasatch County General Plan at wasatchcounty.gov/generalplan.
Contact: [email protected]