Wasatch County has released its draft General Plan — a document that will guide county decisions on aspects such as transportation, development and land use over the next few decades.  In accordance with state code, the document guides growth and development in unincorporated Wasatch County. The county spans 1,207 square miles with 73% of the land being public or incorporated by one of the nine municipalities in the county, including Heber City, Midway, Hideout and Charleston.  “Although it applies only to the unincorporated areas of the county, it is designed with an eye toward compatibility and coordination with incorporated municipalities,” the General Plan draft states.  The General Plan does not change zoning, approve specific developments, regulate incorporated cities or override state or federal law.  “Wasatch County will prioritize preserving its scenic landscapes of the rural unincorporated areas, support compact, infrastructure-efficient development in appropriate locations, seek to coordinate land use compatibility across jurisdictions and engage residents in shaping their communities,” the vision of the draft General Plan states.  The General Plan identifies air and water quality as vulnerable to growth and regional pressures. It states that growth should be directed toward areas with existing infrastructure and municipal services. The document also details that housing demand in Wasatch County is driven by population growth, second-home ownership and regional market pressures. There is also a note that trails and transportation infrastructure are a core component of Wasatch County’s character.  County Planner Austin Corry said the General Plan takes time to digest. The 122-page document delves into air quality, water quality, land use, population trends, transportation and public services, for a start. The General Plan update began in March 2025.  “To be fair to the public, we want to make sure there’s sufficient time for them to really see that and absorb it,” Corry said. “I think a lot of these elements have been out there and discussed for a long amount of time, but this is a significant milestone in that it’s the first time that the whole thing as one comprehensive document is now out there.” The General Plan is essentially a roadmap for the county’s vision for the future. It is essential, Corry said, for the public to provide feedback because of that.  “It’s a community-driven plan. It should be reflective of what the community wants to see,” Corry said.  Corry said the most significant highlights from the General Plan draft include the county’s focus on open space and rural developments — where development is appropriate. He added that he state of Utah requires communities to have general plans, but they’re advisory, and so it’s up to the community as to how seriously to act on the creation of a general plan.  “A General Plan really can be your strategic plan from a land-use and growth management standpoint,” Corry said. “More importantly, I actually believe that a General Plan is more about expectation management for the community.” He said that the creation of a General Plan is an opportunity for county leaders to commit to certain policies and land use decisions that will be made in the future.  “These policies that you find in the General Plan are critically important because they’re the basis whereby all of the codes and regulations and ordinances that are regulatory get built off of,” Corry said.  The last General Plan was updated in 2001, before major events such as the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the Military Installation Development Authority’s presence in Wasatch County and before more recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic.  Corry said that the 2001 General Plan was written at a time when such a document read more like county code and gave specific directions.  “This one, changes that are in the new plan are less drastic than you might think, but they are more important for identifying the core values that matter to the community,” Corry said. “This one has tried to capture that vision that came from the public input scenarios to make sure we all are on the same page and understand what that goal is that we’re trying to achieve.” The county is hosting an open house from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Wasatch County Library to review the draft plan and ask questions. The plan will also be available for public review and comment until May 22.  The draft general plan can be viewed on the Wasatch County website. There is also an option for public comments and feedback.  The post Wasatch County releases General Plan draft, invites public feedback and comments appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less