Ivins is working on updating our General Plan and Land Use map. The Planning Commission decided at their March 15th meeting to hold at least a couple community meetings to get input from residents on land use throughout the city. This should happen soon.
Based on recent comments from residents on issues, here are a few things I would like your input on, as well as other issues that matter to you.
Affordable housing
Generally, the denser the housing the more affordable it will be, with lower land cost per unit and less construction cost with common walls between units. Smaller units help too. So that usually gives us townhomes or apartments. There has been resistance from neighbors to both townhomes and apartments. But the State requires us to find a solution to our affordable housing problem. What types of housing can we encourage to add affordability, how do we make them more acceptable to neighbors, and where should they be built?
Commercial development
Sales tax helps fund community improvements and keeps our taxes lower. Do you favor or oppose encouraging commercial growth within the City? What types of commercial uses (retail, dining, office, services, etc.) should be encouraged, and where should we encourage them to be built?
Transportation
With growth comes more traffic. Not only that, but traffic speed seems to be increasing. Share your thoughts about traffic management ideas, bike lanes, our trail system, speed limit changes, road improvements, and other related issues.
Please share your comments and tell me about other Ivins issues I have not addressed in recent posts. CONTACT ME
Recent “Development” posts
- SITLA Affordable Housing Proposal — Great Goal, Challenging LocationPDF đź“„As noted in previous articles, the Utah Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) is moving forward with a proposal to build 254 small, attainable single-family homes on its 40-acre parcel just off Hwy 91 next to Indigo Trails. The land is in unincorporated Washington County and within “Area 2” of the Ivins Annexation Policy Plan. The…
- Making Land Use Changes Work for the CommunityPDF đź“„Cities across Utah are feeling pressure from the State Legislature to help provide more affordable housing options. At the same time, communities like Ivins are trying to maintain neighborhood character, protect infrastructure capacity, and preserve our quality of life. Those goals aren’t incompatible, but they require thoughtful decision-making. When development proposals come forward, they…
- Red Mountain Resort Development: Update 2PDF đź“„Update – 10/17/25: The City Council last night approved a revised development agreement for Red Mountain Resort. The plan now allows 450 units instead of 500 and, more importantly, adds 16 conditions designed to reduce construction impacts, protect views, address traffic, ensure night-sky-friendly lighting, and more conditions to make the finished project fit more…
- Closer to Affordable Housing Off Hwy 91PDF đź“„The Trust Lands Administration (commonly known as SITLA) has selected a developer for its parcel of land just off Hwy 91 next to the Indigo Trails community. The land is in unincorporated Washington County in “Area 2” of the Ivins Annexation Policy Plan. The developer plans to build about 250 small detached single-family homes on 3,000…
- Is The Housing Debate Comparing Apples To Watermelons?PDF đź“„The Legislature’s focus on housing affordability is understandable. Home prices have far outpaced incomes across Utah, and that’s a real challenge for families. But in trying to solve that one problem, lawmakers are putting on blinders to everything else that good planning protects. Housing isn’t built in a vacuum. When the Legislature’s only lens…