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UTAH COUNTY -- The Utah County Commission has unveiled what it says is a future master plan for the southwest area of Utah County.
It's a chunk of land that is mostly undeveloped, but commissioners believe now is the time to make a plan to ensure future growth is managed.
The real growth is likely still decades away, but the commissioners point to the current situation in the north end of Utah County, where houses were built--far ahead of planning--and roads, schools and infrastructure have still not caught up.
The area is known as the Goshen Valley and encompasses the area north and west of Elberta near Utah Lake.
Commissioners believe it is possible that someday 750,000 people will call the area home, just as many as live in all of Utah County now.
They have created a rough draft of what this area may look like, including where freeways and highways may go, commercial and industrial areas, which will provides jobs to the area, along with residential neighborhoods and open space.
They believe now is the time to look to the future.
Utah County Commissioner Gary Anderson said, "It will be good planning, it is good planning, instead of good reaction, and that will save the taxpayer money, that will save a lot of grief, and we think that is the responsible way to do it."
All of the land is unincorporated, but the county believes cities will incorporate in the future.
The county is also trying to create a tax base in the area to provide funding for schools and infrastructure. There is also a rumor the county is recruiting a paper manufacturer to move to this area, which could mean hundreds of jobs, but so far commissioners aren't talking about it. So some of this plan could become a reality sooner than later.
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
