ASLA UTAH DECEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING EVENTS

**REGISTER NOW! EarlyBird Pricing ends Jan. 31st**
*Cultivating the Profession of Landscape Architecture* 2024 ASLA Utah Annual Conference & Expo. Wednesday, March 27th Riverwoods Conference Center, Logan Utah

**UNLA Green Conference 2024 Mountain America Expo Center** January 22th - 24th **REGISTER HERE**

SAVE THE DATE: ASLA Utah Winter Social & Sponsor Thank You Dinner Friday, February 2nd, 6:30pm-9:00pm ASLA UT Offices 280 S 400 W Suite 150 **RSVP HERE**

Leadership Express

Paul Stead, ASLA Utah President

Something that I’ve been thinking about this holiday season is how very finite our time is. I’m sure I am not alone when I say I have a lot of interests, I was in a choir this December and that was great. I have been playing some Christmas tunes on my guitar, spending time with my family. I’ve even done a little woodworking, but there is not enough time for everything.

Utah ASLA has recently invested in a representative, a lobbyist, to help us not only combat some of the threats to our licensure, but also to take the offensive and to help us fight for more opportunities. We are spending our resources, our time to better the profession.

Maybe that is what we need in our lives, a representative on our side to rally our cause. The new year gives us the opportunity to make some resolutions. To evaluate what we could do better, our dreams and hopes. I challenge you to lobby for yourselves, to prioritize, perhaps list down the things that are most important to you. Figure out where you should be spending your time.

Maybe that's at ASLA, building this great profession that we love. Maybe that's shifting focus at work, or at home. Maybe that's moving forward on a hobby, it doesn't really matter what it is as long as you're doing it intentionally. So, I entreat you, my friends, at this time of year, with me, to pursue your passions. Take time out of your schedule, out of the many distractions that we have, and find those things that pull on your heart strings. Whether you want to get back into something that you’ve forgotten or settle your focus and energies into something that really matters to you. I hope you get a chance to find that this holiday season. Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

2023 Regional Solutions: Zoning Reform for Housing Attainability

Josh Quigley, VP of Visibility & Public Affairs

ASLA Utah Chapter was happy to support the 2023 Regional Solutions: Zoning Reform for Housing Attainability Conference by becoming an Association Sponsor for the event. As part of the Association Sponsorship I was able to attend the event and am excited to share a summary with fellow members.

Introduction to Speakers:

Dr. Arnab Chakraborty, Dean of the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Utah, delves into the complex interplay between zoning, housing affordability, and collaborative planning in his keynote speech.
Jerusalem Demsas, a Staff Writer at The Atlantic, critically examines zoning reform’s impact on the national housing crisis. With a background at Vox and a co-host of The Weeds podcast, her work transcends political divides, addressing structural inefficiencies and institutional challenges for policymakers.

Current Housing Trends: Highlighting a nationwide surge, Chakraborty notes that between 2021 and 2022, 67 of the top 100 markets experienced unprecedented appreciation. Owner-occupied units surged by over 20% annually, and rental units rose by 12%, surpassing 20% in several metropolitan areas.

Driving Forces Behind the Housing Crisis: Despite a robust economy, the historic under-building persists, intensifying competition for first- time and lower-income buyers. Factors include remote work trends, longer lifespans of baby boomers in primary homes, interest rates, and zoning constraints.

Lack of Housing Affordability Impact: Chakraborty emphasizes the damaging impact of housing unaffordability on GDP, growth attraction, talent retention, and support for essential workers. Demsas emphasizes the disproportionate impacts on low-income and minority residents that are highlighted through widespread cost burdens.

Changing Utah and Effects on Affordable Housing: Utah is undergoing dramatic demographic shifts, transitioning from a small, affordable state to a mid-sized, expensive, multicultural state facing housing affordability challenges.

Zoning Reform and Solutions: Demsas and Chakraborty propose multifaceted zoning reform, including eliminating single- family zoning, reducing parking minimums, promoting missing middle housing, and allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs). They underscore the importance of tailored policies for sustainability and smart growth.

Market Segments and Incentives: Different market segments, such as missing middle, ADUs, and multi-family, are discussed. Incentives and enforcement mechanisms, including public funding and land use flexibility, are highlighted as critical to success.

Addressing Concerns Beyond Zoning Reform: Demsas and Chakraborty address concerns about property values and advocate for a holistic approach to development, including periodic review, frequent policy adjustments, and community input.

Utah ASLA Memorial Fund Scholarship

You Can Help a Student by donating just $20.25 for 2025!

In 2013, the Utah ASLA Memorial Fund gave out its first scholarship to an LAEP student. Since that time, we have awarded a scholarship every year, and the amount has grown from $1,000 to $1,500. Our goal for 2025 is to give out a scholarship that will fully cover one semester’s tuition.

In order to meet this goal and continue to grow the fund each year, we need to raise $4,050 to add to the principal of the Memorial Fund. If 200 people would contribute just $20.25 each, we would have this amount covered. Or if just 20 people were to give $202.50 each, that would do it, too.

If you contribute before March 15th, 2024, we will be pleased to recognize your name at the Utah ASLA Annual Conference on March 27th in Logan, Utah.

Your gift will make a difference in the life of a student. As our 2023 scholarship recipient wrote, “This award will not only help me achieve my academic and career goals, it will also inspire me to continue to work hard and give back to my community.”

Please reach out to Geoff Ellis, Memorial Fund Manager, oakcrestdesign@gmail.com

Special Thanks to ASLA Utah 2023 Sponsors & Corporate Partners for their Support!

Click here to become a 2024 ASLA Utah Sponsor or Partner!

Platinum Sponsors
BioGrass | Great Western Recreation l Pikus | Rain Bird | Victor Stanley

Corporate Partners
MHTN | Io LandArch | SGLA Technical Training

ASLA UTAH DECEMBER NEWSLETTER