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We all know Utah’s population is expanding.
We experience it on our highways. We see it in the new homes that are under construction. We sense it in our schools, offices and retail outlets.
Figures from the U.S. Census Bureau validate our collective feelings. Since 2000, 236,416 people – that’s a quarter of a million new residents - have been added to Utah’s population.
All projections say such dramatic growth will continue.
KSL brings this up at the beginning of this New Year because of our concern for the future. So far, Utah has handled the growth reasonably well. But the demands on the state’s infrastructure will only intensify in coming years.
Fortunately, key mechanisms are in place to help Utah cope with what’s happening. Foremost is the cooperative planning effort undertaken in recent years as facilitated by the organization known as Envision Utah!
Yet, there remains a degree of resistance among some local leaders toward long-range growth planning on a regional basis. In KSL’s view, where local leaders aren’t onboard the process, they ought to be.
In our view, widespread collaboration in the planning process, assisted by the excellent tools provided by Envision Utah, is essential to assuring quality growth throughout Utah in the years ahead.
