Commission authorizes planning board to update county growth policy with Department of Commerce funding

The Granite County Commission voted on March 8 to authorize the planning board to pursue a formal update of the county’s growth policy and to accept Department of Commerce funds to cover consultant and administrative costs.

Planning Director Linda Bock told the commission the county’s growth policy was last updated in 2012 and that the town of Phillipsburg had recently completed its own update. Bock said the state Department of Commerce has funds under community development programs to pay for a consultant and related expenses, meaning the county would not need to appropriate local funds for the update.

Commissioners discussed the non‑regulatory nature of a growth policy, its role in grant applications, and how the planning board would conduct public meetings during the roughly one‑year process. Public participants (including Elena Gagliano) asked about public meeting notice and participation; Bock said the planning board would hold meetings and public hearings and that planning staff would handle legal notice requirements for formal adoption steps.

A motion to let the planning board move forward with the growth‑policy update and to accept Department of Commerce funding was made and approved by voice vote. Commissioners confirmed staff will coordinate public notices and that the planning board will return recommendations as the process advances.