Hey everyone and welcome back to Summit County News here on Summit in Six. Today, we’ve got some interesting findings based on community feedback from the General Plan updates, more info on the 2025 Legislative session and its impacts on Summit County and a reminder for Summit County Parents. Let’s get into the news!

GENERAL PLAN  UPDATES

Earlier this week, the Community Planning Department presented on the Eastern Summit County and Synderville Basin General Plan updates to the Council of Governments. Here’s what residents have told us so far in this process:

In Eastern Summit County, residents identified the following priorities:

Preserve open spaces for ecosystems & recreation:

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• 79% of residents value open spaces for protecting natural ecosystems, wildlife, and water bodies
  
• 65% consider open spaces important for supporting local agriculture
  
• 56% want more spaces for passive recreation like bird watching and walking 
  
• Only 2% of residents consider their own homes as “development” that impacts open space 
  

Expand affordable housing options thoughtfully

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• 53% support making apartments and condos available and affordable for community members 
  
• 75% support limiting short-term rentals in certain areas 
  
• 65% favor developing new housing near existing commercial areas and public facilities 
  
• Most residents want “Little Growth” or “No Growth,” yet the majority support more attainable housing 
  

And in Transportation & Economy, residents want to reduce traffic with smart planning, and support local businesses & small scale growth.

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• 87% of residents drive alone when traveling within the community 
  
• 34% believe the region’s economy needs more diversification 
  
• The community prefers local small businesses over national chains 
  
• 66% say architectural style is the most important factor in commercial areas 
  

In the Synderville Basin, residents shared similar concerns:

Open Space for ecosystems and recreation is a top priority

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• 82.5% value open spaces for protecting natural ecosystems, wildlife, and water bodies
  
• 60% love open spaces near their homes and neighborhoods 
  
• 76% feel the Basin is rural due to its mountain setting and preserved spaces 
  
• Only 5% consider their own homes as “development” impacting open space 
  

Housing & Development: Residents want more attainable options near transit and services

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• 70% support development near public facilities and transit 
  
• 66% favor adding housing to existing commercial areas 
  
• 62% say more attainable housing is needed 
  
• 55% indicate a need for more single-family housing options 
  

Walkability, Transportation & Accessibility

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• 87% currently drive alone in the community but many hope to rely less on cars
  
• 68% want to use public transit more 
  
• 55% would like to bike to local destinations 
  
• The community wants cars to have a less visual presence while maintaining access 
  

Community Character

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• Local businesses preferred over national chains 
  
• 70% prioritize walkable commercial areas 
  
• Community service and volunteerism were highlighted as key values 
  
• 44% believe community boards need more diverse representation 
  

Want to stay involved or give your input? Visit summitcounty.org/GeneralPlans to share your feedback!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

And now we’ve got a few updates on bills in this legislative session that could impact Summit County and Summit County residents. 

HB 332 – This would require the state to withdraw from ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center), which acts as a clearinghouse for information on people moving from state to state within the U.S. for elections, ultimately reducing the accuracy of our voter roles. This bill is a concern with Clerks across the state who are working with the Lt. Governor’s office on it.

HB 342 – allows farming operations to compost animal waste without state oversight from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). 

HB 368 – Limits local land use restrictions, increases state oversight of zoning decisions and requires faster processing of development applications to reduce delays. This is a large bill (more than 7,000 lines) and the County is working to understand the impact it could have at the local level.

SB 197 – fully repeals the homeowner credit and replaces it with a tax deferral. The home owner credit is an option for individuals 66 years or older with an annual income of $40,000. Many Summit County residents utilize this program to keep their homes. Tax deferrals only pass the tax burden on to the heirs of the property.

As a reminder, you can watch the 2025 legislative session in real time through the online tool at https://le.utah.gov/. Click on the “calendar” button then the desired meeting and the committee webpage will have links to materials and the audio/video recording. 

You can also follow individual bills and receive email alerts whenever action is taken on the measure. To sign up for alerts, visit le.utah.gov and click on the “Bills” tab at the top of the page to perform a bill request or keyword search. Once you’ve located the desired bill, click “Track this” or “Email notification.” The website for each bill also provides the bill text, status information, audio/video of any committee hearings or floor debate, and details on the bill sponsor. 

SHARP SURVEY REMINDER

Hey Summit County parents of 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders! The Utah Student Health and Risk Prevention or SHARP survey provides the youth in our community a chance to share their voices on community climate, school safety, underage substance use, mental wellness, and more.

The survey is anonymous, voluntary, and confidential. Results are used by numerous local organizations that provide valuable services for our children. The Health Department asks that parents give permission and encourage their children to take the SHARP Survey this year. To help you and your child prepare, a frequently asked questions page is available at  https://summitcounty.info/SHARP25