Salt Lake County Planning & Development Services Cooperative County Plan Pilot Program

In June 2008, Salt Lake County Planning & Development Services began the Cooperative County Plan (CCP). This multi-year, multi-jurisdiction initiative was developed to strengthen inter-county relationships by linking regional planning efforts such as transportation corridors, data collection, resource management, policy adoption, and developing best practices. Within a 6 month period, Salt Lake County has already made great gains with the local jurisdictions Planning Director’s, primarily by reworking Traffic Analysis Zones to focus more on land use developments that dictate traffic demand. Salt Lake County staff has also committed funding and significant time of one long range planner to manage a pilot program for 2009. In November, the Planning Directors voted that a unified and current bicycle and pedestrian pathways map which also linked transit and other destinations such as parks, event centers, government buildings, etc within Salt Lake County was a critical and obtainable goal for 2009, thus making it the first CCP pilot program. The County’s diverse municipalities will be able to benefit from maps, a best practice, and a report on the right of ways. More...

• There have been several attempts at creating bicycle and pedestrian maps throughout the Wasatch Front, most noticeably by Wasatch Front Regional Council, but the plan does not reflect updated general plans from cities, nor does it take into account specific land uses that could be more unified. Additional community input is also desired. The purpose of the proposed bicycle map is to provide the most current data, reflect city’s desires, and produce the maps in an electronic format that is easily updated.
• Salt Lake County understands that a user-friendly map and interactive mapping web site is a critical component of the pilot program but cities also need exemplary ways of producing more bicycle lanes that are safe and efficient for all vehicles on the road. The County will be working with the Cities to identify best practices on complete streets to create a template or consistent design format for all municipalities to use when developing a roadway. These standards are to be developed with the intention that all cities within Salt Lake County begin to use the same standards.
• Cities need a clear vision to protect and acquire right of ways within their boundaries and this pilot program will enable them to use tools to be able to create safer and more abundant bicycle lanes.

The Cooperative County Plan is unique due to the fact that Salt Lake County Planning Director’s have not met on a regular basis in several years. Salt Lake County’s Long Range Planning Team has put considerable time and energy into persuading local jurisdictions that working together will produce a more competitive region, while still maintaining individuality within cities. It is Salt Lake County’s desire to continue to develop relationships with the 16 municipalities and suggest ways to work more closely together without placing compulsory requirement of cities. Salt Lake County believes that alternative modes of transit and uniform standards throughout the County will benefit the region as a whole.