This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
You make a plan to find your dream home. You figure out how much money to save before you retire. You consider carefully how to provide educational opportunities for your children. We all look ahead for the important things in life to ensure we invest appropriately and make the right decisions for ourselves and our families. When we invest, we strategically allocate resources today for priorities that will produce the best results tomorrow.
Tomorrow is coming fast. With Utah's population projected to nearly double by 2050, we must have an action plan for our shared future. Public, private and community leaders are engaging with residents across the Wasatch Front on a collaborative effort to develop that plan. The plan is called Wasatch Choice 2050.
Wasatch Choice 2050 will provide a blueprint for growth and development patterns, housing and transportation choices and the thoughtful preservation of the natural environment and recreational spaces that make Utah so unique.
This plan for the future will outline how to make the vision a reality through recommended implementation strategies. It will reflect and respond to the dynamic changes happening in communities throughout the region, including demographic shifts and market demands. In addition, it will build on local implementation efforts like Salt Lake County's The Future We Choose and the Envision Utah Your Utah Your Future statewide vision.
Implementing Wasatch Choice 2050 will create opportunities for all Utahns, including access to jobs and educational opportunities. It will help to build a strong and inclusive economy, improve air quality and health outcomes and support an excellent quality of life for Utahns living across the Wasatch Front now and through the year 2050.
Hundreds of community leaders, elected officials, policymakers, agency partners, industry groups, businesses, advocacy organizations, and members of the public came together Wednesday to kick off Wasatch Choice 2050. We ask the public to partner with us and add their voice in shaping the future of our great region. More information about this important effort can be found at wasatchchoice.com/consortium.
We must leverage the collaborative spirit for which Utahns are known to address the challenges of tomorrow by implementing forward-thinking solutions today. Wasatch Choice 2050 is an investment of our time and energy now that will pay huge dividends for our shared future. Please join us as we prepare for tomorrow.
Tom Dolan has been mayor of Sandy since 1995.