State and local leaders are working on a strategic plan for developing the Point of the Mountain area in the heart of Utah’s Silicon Slopes. They're seeking input from people who live and work in the area.
Phase one of the Point of the Mountain development plan included gathering feedback from people who live and work in Southern Salt Lake and Northern Utah Counties about their expectations for the area in the coming decades. Major concerns included traffic congestion, housing and air quality.
Planners are now kicking off phase two, which narrows the scope to specific scenarios. Government leaders, business owners and residents are gathered into groups. They’re looking at huge list with ideas like “provide free public transportation,” “build a trail connection between the Wasatch, Traverse and Oquirrh mountains,” and “provide increased support for start-ups,” to choose theirtop priorities.
In a section about energy use, Katy and David Monson talk about their experience investing in smart home technology.
“We installed a smart thermostat in our last home and we were paying half of what our neighbors were spending,” Katy Monson says. “And we kept our house just as comfortable as they did”
“You could do that at a commercial scale and probably see even bigger savings,” suggests Monson’s husband, David.
The group adds it to their list. Lynn Pace brings up one of his biggest concerns: housing.
“Affordability is a high priority,” Pace says. “Otherwise, none of my kids will be able to—they’ll live in Tooele, or Nephi, or someplace.”
Brainstorming sessions like this are crucial to planning for the future, says Chris Conabee, who co-chairs the Point of the Mountain Development Commission.
“The scariest thing is to not have a plan, right? The good news is as Utahns, historically, we’re good planners,” Conabee says. “We lay out wide streets, we did light rail, we’re doing an airport expansion, we do look to the future and we do know that we’ll continue to grow.”
Conabee says the real challenge is managing that growth. He says input gathered at these workshops—and online—will help with that.
