What Summit County wants: open spaces, smart growth, and fewer strip malls

Evening traffic at Kimball Junction on SR 224. Photo: TownLift

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah – Summit County residents have spoken. After a series of community meetings, surveys, and discussions, locals from Eastern Summit County and the Snyderville Basin have made their priorities clear—protecting open space, creating thoughtful housing solutions, and supporting local businesses.

Open Spaces: Love It, Keep It, Protect It

Preserving open space remains a top priority for Summit County residents, with overwhelming support for protecting natural landscapes, wildlife, and water bodies. According to the recent community input, 79% of Eastern Summit County residents and 82.5% of Snyderville Basin residents emphasize the importance of maintaining open spaces. Additionally, 60% of Snyderville Basin residents value having natural areas near their homes, reinforcing the region’s strong connection to its mountain environment. Interestingly, while most residents support limiting development, only 2% in Eastern Summit County and 5% in Snyderville consider their own homes as contributing to it—highlighting the challenge of balancing growth with conservation efforts.

Housing: More Options, But Not Too Much Growth

On the topic of housing, residents say they support various housing options but they don’t want too much growth. The phrase “attainable housing” came up a lot, meaning more affordable homes for locals—but without overdeveloping the landscape. 53% in Eastern Summit County and 62% in the Basin say they want more affordable housing options. Locals prefer housing near commercial areas, public facilities, and transit, with 70% of Snyderville residents and 65% of Eastern Summit residents supporting that approach. Meanwhile, most residents want little or no growth—a delicate balance policymakers will need to navigate.

Getting Around: Less Traffic, More Walkability

Everyone drives…a lot—87% of residents in both regions drive alone when traveling within their communities. But people are eager for change. 68% of Snyderville residents want to use public transit more. 55% want to bike to local destinations. There’s a strong preference for walkable commercial areas—a priority for 70% of Snyderville residents.

Local Business vs. Big Chains: No Contest

When it comes to the economy and community character, locals are clear: small businesses over big-box stores. 66% of Eastern Summit County residents say architectural style matters most in commercial areas (no cookie-cutter strip malls). 34% think the local economy needs more diversity, but they’d prefer it come from small-scale growth rather than massive development.

Community Involvement: Who’s at the Table?

Many residents want more diverse representation in community boards (44% in Snyderville say it’s needed). Volunteerism and community service were also highlighted as key values, reinforcing the county’s strong sense of local identity.

The Community Planning Department presented these findings to the Council of Governments, and now officials say the challenge is figuring out how to turn these priorities into policies.