Wasatch County’s development plans expected to bring 30,000 new residents to area in coming years

Heber City Development plans, 2022. Photo: Heber City Planning Committee

WASATCH COUNTY, Utah – In the past few years, Heber City and Wasatch County have established development plans for the areas north of Heber City and around the Jordanelle Reservoir. The plans include a string of different developments, stretching from the Utah Valley University Wasatch Campus to the town of Hideout.

Seven developments within Wasatch County have already been approved and have begun construction, including Skyridge, Hideout, Mayflower, Tuhaye, Victory Ranch, Benloch, and Sorenson. The seven approved developments will total over 11,200 residential units, including townhomes, apartments, and single-family residences.

When construction is finished, the seven approved developments are expected to bring in around 30,000-35,000 residents to the area. These population estimations don’t include another six pending mixed-use developments in the same area. The six pending developments, the DMJ, Crossings, North Village, Highlands, Fitzgerald, and Wellberg annexations, are all petitioning to be incorporated into Heber City.

The six pending developments, all along highway U.S.-40 north of Heber City, will include over another 1,000 residential units. The pending developments will contain mixed-use housing, including student housing, assisted living, affordable housing, as well as townhomes, and single-family homes.

All developments on highway U.S.-40 are petitioning to be annexed by Heber City and are expected to be successfully annexed within two years. Annexing these developments allows Heber City to be more involved in the planning of the infrastructure and layout of all proposed developments.

As well as residential housing, according to the Heber City Council packet, the city plans to create “outdoor gathering spaces, parks and plazas; schools and community centers; a mix of shopping, restaurants, and offices; as well as a variety of housing choices, including more affordable options”. The goal is to promote a dense and compact walkable neighborhood with a variety of small businesses and gathering spaces.

A requirement Heber City imposed on the developers was for each residential development to reserve 10% of their total residential units for affordable housing. These affordable housing units can only increase in price by 3% each year to prevent someone from buying them and selling them again in a year for an increased price.

Part of the plan for a vibrant neighborhood includes a $50 million performing arts center near the UVU Wasatch campus. The Sorenson developers are collaborating with Heber City to plan the arts center, and the Wasatch County Arts Council is in charge of fundraising the $50 million.

Although construction of all developments is not expected to be completed within the next 30 years, construction has already begun on residential units approved by the city and county.