Charting a Path Forward through Foresight and Planning

A master plan is a document that helps cities and towns plan their future needs and budgeting plans. It includes analysis and recommendations for land use, facilities, infrastructure, and public use needs, as well as projections for growth.

Master Plan Process and Result

Looking at the past as well as to the future, CMA worked closely with Lehi City to complete their master plan. Their efforts included months of research and collaboration to determine the location of the applicable master plan, summary of city building facilities, exterior design, budget, department and building analysis, design and campus plan concepts, building and site design, strategic public involvement, and a schedule of implementation.

The result is a set of conceptual documents, 20-year master plan, landscape design, and cost estimates that serve to uphold a sense of place while charting a path forward. It is intended to provide the City with the facilities and resources necessary to both engage residents and retain and attract private sector investment.

A Cohesive City Campus

The vision for the city campus was fourfold: to revitalize historic downtown Lehi City, enhance the pedestrian experience, create a cohesive campus that reflects historic Lehi City’s character, and prepare for future growth. Tasked with creating a city campus master plan, CMA developed a phasing and implementation schedule for existing and future buildings. A public plaza connects the police building, recreational center, future planned buildings, and all other existing buildings to give the outdoor space a sense of place. By creating a cohesive plan and identifying priorities and funding mechanisms, the City can begin each next planned project.

To accomplish a campus feel that residents can enjoy, CMA worked through a few unique features and challenges. There were street adjustments to be made; namely, one existing street which will be closed to facilitate new pedestrian pathways to the plaza. Other streets will have bulb-outs to slow traffic and improve pedestrian walkability and safety. Planned new parking structures will provide more public parking capacity. It was important during the planning process to ensure city hall had a sense of prominence without overwhelming the overall skyline and presence within the plaza. Design considerations such as creating an open area from Main Street to City Hall, a double-sided stage, and ample green space give this space a feeling of importance within an inviting atmosphere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Marriage of Safety and Vibrancy

While developing the master plan, normal life was upended by a global pandemic. CMA and city stakeholders were unexpectedly challenged with identifying safe and appropriate ways to maintain vibrancy while keeping people safe. To be flexible and forward-thinking, the team did a quick pivot to model new scenarios for current and future uses of buildings, spaces, etc. Together we considered building designs and uses for remote work scenarios as well as technology and innovation to meet virtual needs for employees and the public.

Virtual Community Outreach

With meetings that would normally be held face-to-face, we suddenly found ourselves interacting virtually. Overall, the process was fairly seamless—except for engaging the local community and soliciting feedback during the planning process. We worked through technical difficulties while conducting online meetings and invited the public to attend an in-person session during a small window when the pandemic restrictions had been lifted. These challenges highlighted the need for innovative ways to communicate with both City leaders and the public.

Despite an unprecedented year of twists and turns, the final Lehi City master plan is a dynamic, long-term planning document that CMA is proud to have been a part of. We believe this plan provides an incredible space for residents, businesses, and visitors. CMA is excited to watch this community grow and flourish in the coming 20 years—all as a result of thorough and critical foresight and planning.