EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT SALT LAKE COUNTY, UTAH 2019 OQUIRRH VIEW Acknowledgments The Oquirrh View Existing Conditions Report was prepared by the Salt Lake County Office of Regional Development and completed May, 2019. Salt Lake County: Mayor Jennifer Wilson, Deputy Mayor of Regional Operations Catherine Kanter, Associate Deputy Mayor of Regional Operations MIke Reberg Council Members: Jim Bradley, Arlyn Bradshaw, Max Burdick, Steve DeBry, Shireen Ghorbani, Ann Granato, Michael Jensen, Aimee Winder Newton, Richard Snelgrove. The following Salt Lake County staff contributed to the project: Wilf Sommerkorn (Planning and Transportation Division Director), Jake Young (Project Manager), Helen Peters (Transportation), Samantha Sedivec, Jared Stewart, Stewart Gubler, Carlton Christensen (former Department Director), Blake Thomas (Economic), Ruedigar Matthes (Economic), Angelo Calacino (Parks and Recreation). The following consultants contributed to the project: Demographics - Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute | David Eccles School of Business: Pam Perlich, Mallory Bateman, and Natalie Young Transportation - Monument Engineers: Diego Carroll Housing - Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute | David Eccles School of Business: Jim Wood, Dejan Eskic, DJ Benway Utilities - Ensign Engineering and Land Surveying: Derek Nelson, Fred Duberow, David Jenkins The following agencies provided input through the process: Cities: Bluffdale, Herriman, Riverton, Salt Lake City, South Jordan, Taylorsville, West Jordan, West Valley City Metro Townships: Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District, Copperton, Kearns, Magna Public Agencies and Utilities: Camp Williams/Utah National Guard, Dominion Energy, Granite School District, Jordan School District, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, Kem. C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, Magna Water District, Rocky Mountain Power, South Valley Sewer District, South Valley Water Reclamation District, Utah Department of Transportation, Utah Transit Authority, Wasatch Front Regional Council Major Property Owners: Rio Tinto Kennecott Communications Consultant: Wilkinson Ferrari & Co. 2 OQUIRRH VIEW Table of Contents Chapter 1: Executive Summary . 4 Chapter 2: Demographics . 10 Chapter 3: Land Use . 30 Chapter 4: Transportation . 46 Chapter 5: Utilities . 62 Chapter 6: Housing . 81 Chapter 7: Economy . 113 Chapter 8: Parks and Trails . 141 Chapter 9: Environment . 153 Appendix . 168 Acronyms . 168 Glossary . 170 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Chapter 1: Executive Summary has occurred to date. Along with efforts such as the County Council’s Growth Summit Introduction Series, this existing conditions report paints a picture so local officials and communities can understand what’s needed to accommodate The Salt Lake Valley provides a beautiful future demands. The Oquirrh View Existing and welcoming home for 1.2 million people. Conditions Report will provide detailed By 2065, an estimated 600,000 additional background information to all cities, townships, residents will call Salt Lake County home; transportation agencies, utility agencies, many will settle in currently undeveloped areas landowners, residents, developers and west of Bangerter Highway. others who will be involved in shaping our future. Salt Lake County will use the report Preparing for this growth requires thoughtful when developing the General Plan for planning. Where will these new residents the unincorporated areas (not within city live, work, shop, learn and play? Will there be boundaries) of the west bench. enough water to accommodate this growth? How will people get from place to place? Will affordable housing be available for people of all Why the name "Oquirrh View"? income levels? With the Oquirrh Mountains being a significant portion of the study area and focal point of the Salt Lake County’s Office of Regional planning the name Oquirrh was included in Development is leading an effort to develop the project. The second word View is from the a broad vision and plan for the Valley’s west view of the Oquirrhs provide throughout the bench for the next 20+ years. Salt Lake County and the new Mountain View Corridor, a crucial transportation link in the Salt As part of this process, detailed research Lake Valley. was conducted to understand how growth Figure 1.1: View of the Oquirrh Mountains 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY About the Oquirrh Mountains Implications include: • Community leaders, schools, and businesses The Oquirrh Mountains are an essential and must consider needs of growing populations often overlooked geographical element of the and changing demographics. Salt Lake Valley. The Oquirrh Mountains are • Residents may expect their community will approximately 30 miles long, starting from remain the same, not recognizing that growth the Great Salt Lake in the north and heading and change are constant. south to the middle of Utah County. The Salt Lake portion of the Oquirrh Mountains is Land Use approximately 18 miles or a little more than half the full length. With 32,182 developable acres west of Bangerter, the study area contains The highest elevation point in the Oquirrh the last significant developable parcels in Mountains is Flat Top Peak at 10,628 feet Salt Lake County – about equal to the size (in Utah County); the highest point on the of five Taylorsville cities. One landowner, Rio Salt Lake side is Nelson Peak at 9,359 feet. Tinto Kennecott, owns 72% of all remaining The name Oquirrh comes from the Goshute unincorporated County land, including much of Tribe and means "wood sitting" or "wooded the Oquirrh Mountains. As a result, west bench mountain", depending on the source. foothills have not been developed as they have on the County’s east side. Demographics Implications include: Significant growth is happening • Developable areas offer significant along the west bench. Since 2000, nearly 57% opportunities to maximize public resources to of County population growth has occurred meet future needs. here; 135,546 new residents total, or about • Now-off-limits mountain areas may provide 8,000 people a year. Minority populations are future recreation opportunities. growing throughout the area. The number of children is growing quickly as well, particularly in southwest communities, creating significant challenges for school districts. Figure 1.2: View of Bingham Copper Mine in the Oquirrh Mountains. 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Transportation critical to manage demand and reduce infrastructure costs. North-south routes are well- • Failure to appropriately size utilities could served and improving, with major delay or hinder development. investments to Mountain View Corridor and Bangerter Highway. East-west mobility is Housing limited and constrained. Transit service is relatively better in northern communities, but Housing costs are skyrocketing and lacking overall in coverage and frequency. out pacing incomes. Rental vacancy Active transportation options for bicycles rates are at historic lows, pushing rents to and pedestrians are limited. Most local street historic highs. An extreme gap in housing networks lack connectivity and roads are exists for people living at or below the poverty undersized to meet current and future demand. level. Housing trends are changing, with more townhomes and apartments than seen before. Implications include: Communities are wary of growth impacts. • Commuters will continue to travel out of their way on north-south routes to avoid east-west Implications include: congestion. • Options beyond single-family housing will be • Lack of street connectivity inhibits transit in greater demand. service and requires motorists to use main • More jobs closer to housing can lower roads and highways for local trips, as well as commuting costs, increasing affordability for regional commutes. some. • Transportation improvements can help reduce • Education and outreach are needed to congestion, but benefits will be short-lived address community concerns about growth and without comprehensive community planning to development issues. handle growth in a sustainable manner. Economy and Jobs Utilities Job availability is low throughout the Demands on infrastructure are Oquirrh View area; most jobs are in increasing and meeting needs is the northern half. Lack of jobs in the south end difficult. While additional water is available, reduces economic opportunities and increases water districts will need to annex the land into transportation time and costs for residents. their service and area and make plans. Local economic development efforts have often favored recruiting light-industrial businesses Implications include: with relatively few jobs per acre. Retail and • Extending water and sewer utilities to food-service jobs in the area generally offer future residents and businesses will be more lower wages. expensive and increasingly difficult to provide over time. Implications include: •Water conservation through water efficient • Most working adults leave the area each day landscaping and plumbing fixtures will be to work, creating significant commutes and 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY GREAT SALT LAKE 2000-2017 57% INCOMES INCREASED 39%, OF COUNTY GROWTH OCCURRED IN SF HOMES PRICES ROSE 38% STUDY AREA OVER LAST DECADE AND RENTS AN ASTOUNDING 87% Approximately 135,000 new residents between 2000 and 2017 6 ACRES OF DEVELOPED PARK LAND PER 1,000 ACRES LESS THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 80 10 ACRES PER 1,000 SALT LAKE CITY 201 SOUTH 80 MAGNA SALT WEST 215 LAKE MILLCREEK VALLEY CITY 111 CITY TAYLORSVILLE HOLLADAY KEARNS MURRAY AY MIDVALE COTTONWOOD WEST