New housing inventory tool set to transform urban planning

During a recent government meeting, officials discussed the formation of an internal working group involving staff from the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), the Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG), and the Utah Transit Authority (UTA). This group aims to collaborate on grant opportunities, particularly focusing on the federal RAISE grant, which requires an 80% funding match with 20% coming from non-federal sources. Participants were encouraged to identify potential projects for funding, with a timeline for project submissions expected by fall 2023.

Burt Granberg from WFRC presented an update on the Housing Unit Inventory project, which aims to provide a comprehensive dataset and interactive map detailing residential housing stock across the region. This initiative utilizes data from county assessors to forecast development trends through 2050. Granberg highlighted the importance of accurate data in understanding housing density and land use, noting that the region has seen a significant increase in multifamily units over the past few decades.

The new web-based tool allows users to query housing data by specific areas, providing insights into unit counts, land use intensity, and valuation trends. Granberg emphasized the project's potential utility for local municipalities in their moderate-income housing planning efforts. Feedback from local officials is welcomed as the project continues to evolve, with the first version of the housing inventory expected to be publicly available soon.

Overall, the meeting underscored the collaborative efforts among various agencies to enhance regional planning and address housing challenges effectively.