ST. GEORGE — Preserving Springdale’s distinctly quaint charm while modernizing is the direction the town is headed, with City Council passing an updated general plan in its July meeting.

“The overarching goal is to safeguard the unique small-town atmosphere of Springdale,” Barbara Bruno, Springdale mayor, said. “While change is inevitable, we can make land use decisions that complement the natural environment.

“We must protect and preserve our natural features, such as clean air, clear night skies, a clean Virgin River, open spaces and unobscured vistas surrounding the town.”

The general plan is updated every five years; the last time it was altered was in July 2016. The town has had a general plan for nearly 50 years, the first one created in the late 1970s.

Springdale Director of Community Development Tom Dansie said in 1992, the town adopted a general plan that established the foundation for its current vision and direction.

“That plan emphasized the need for Springdale to preserve its village character and village scale as it continues to experience growth and development,” Dansie said.

The town revised the plan in 2005, 2010 and 2016 before adopting this latest update. Dansie said, although the content and strategies in the plan have changed with each update to accommodate changing conditions, the overall vision and direction for the community have remained consistent.

Springdale’s biggest challenge has been the increase in tourists, which peaked at over 5 million in 2021 with its proximity to Zion National Park. The general plan focuses on future growth and development.

Its foundation is built from community feedback, changes in conditions, and new technologies. The plan advises the decisions of the Planning Commission and Town Council regarding land use, new development and town operations, Bruno said.

Over the last five years, the need for reliable internet service has increased. People who drive electric and hybrid vehicles expect to find charging stations. Additionally, Bruno said that the severe drought throughout the southwestern United States requires new and better ways to conserve the precious water supply.

Community members who submitted input on the plan continue to support the first general plan created years ago to preserve Springdale’s character, said one council member.

“Time and time again, when we talk to the residents, they continue to support the original vision from the very beginning of having general plans of wanting to maintain the village character, the village feel and the open space,” Suzanne Elger, Springdale councilwoman said. “Those kinds of things that have stayed consistent as far as a desire for the town and the residents.”

But the overwhelming challenge in this gateway location to Zion National Park is balancing development versus what residents want versus the economic drivers.

“We need to have a variety of businesses that support the tourism but also support the residents that add to the value of the experience of visiting and living in the town,” Elger said.

There are eight key areas the general plan focuses on, which include:

• Housing
• Transportation
• Land use
• Economic development
• Municipal and public services
• Parks, recreation and the arts
• Public health
• Natural and cultural resources

Another issue Springdale faces is the lack of affordable housing. Bruno estimates the number of employees commuting to Springdale from other areas is over 1,000 per day. The town continues to seek solutions, she said.

“Workforce housing would not only support our businesses and enable them to be fully staffed, but it would also allow those employees to become members of our community,” Bruno said.

The plan notes Springdale will retain its rural character by protecting neighborhoods from the impacts of increased commercialization. The town will offer housing options that support families of diverse incomes. The guideline is for Springdale to offer low-density residential units, higher-density multi-family units in select locations and accessory dwelling units.

Elger said housing is challenging nationwide and more so in Springdale because it is landlocked compared with other places.

Elger also said the town’s transportation plan is a good one and continues to grow. In 2017, when the Utah Department of Transportation completed the expansion of state Route 9, Springdale added a bike lane. More sidewalks are being built and there is a shuttle system.

“I think we’re getting there with a very good active transportation plan,” Elger said.

Types of transportation addressed in the plan include walking, biking, electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, charging stations and future transportation innovations. Springdale aims to minimize traffic and parking congestion from cars.

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