P
lanning is one of the most complicated functions of municipal government. Planning can be the difference between thriving cities with a healthy tax base and communities that can barely keep up with providing needed infrastructure and services. City Planning is often misunderstood and gets a bad rap— understandably because residents and stakeholders can have opposite visions for the future, and when any decision is made, one side may not be happy. Outside entities and neighboring communities often impact plans. On top of the usual challenges, South Jordan faces the unique pressure of being one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation for the better part of a decade. Growth and change are difficult. South Jordan’s leaders have been balancing the many differing opinions, needs, and property rights of the community in the face of that growth. Their efforts have been consistently recognized, with South Jordan being named one of the top 50 of “America’s Best Places to Live” by Money.com. The City was also named WalletHub’s 2nd Best City for Access to Resources and the 22nd Best Place Overall in America for 2018. The City was honored in 2017 by USA Today as one of the Top 50 Best Cities in America to Live In, with the highest ranking of any city in the state.
Additionally, South Jordan’s Daybreak Community was named the Best Place in America to Retire, by Where to Retire Magazine. These accolades are in no small part due to the City’s planning efforts. We often are asked, “What is the City doing to manage growth?” Whether residents want to see the City grow or stop growing altogether, both groups want to know how it manages that growth and all it entails—infrastructure, resource management, economic development, housing availability, etc.
How the City Plans for the Future South Jordan plans as much as 30 years at a time, updating plans as varying market and societal changes occur. Municipal planners can plan for the future using the general plan, small area plans, zoning, transportation plans, and regional plans. They also influence various county and state boards that make decisions on broader planning initiatives and funding. Some of the City’s adopted plans are •
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South Jordan General Plan: This plan guides future growth and investment while preserving the City’s high quality of life and unique character. Transportation Master Plan: This plan aims to plan for the future multi-
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modal transportation needs of South Jordan City, given the future land use plans. Moderate Housing Plan: The purpose of this plan is to understand and forecast needs for affordable housing as directed by the State legislature. Active Transportation Plan: This plan provides the groundwork for enhancing active transportation in the community by presenting a vision for future active transportation projects and showing how to realize them. Parks & Open Space Master Plan: This plan identifies community goals and objectives related to parks, recreation, arts, trails, and open space and includes a list of prioritized implementation strategies. Water Shortage Management Plan: This plan is intended to preserve and protect the public health, safety, and welfare during drought, temporary water shortages, and supply interruptions.
Outside Limitations One of the biggest misconceptions about municipal planning is thinking cities can do more than is in their control. There are numerous limitations, Continued on next page...