Ogden Valley City Awarded $175,000 Grant to Support Land Use and Transportation Planning
28 March 2026
On Thursday, March 19, 2026, the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) announced the award of a $175,000 technical service award to support Ogden Valley City’s future land‑use and transportation planning. The city will provide a $25,000 match, bringing the total project budget to $200,000 for planning work beginning this summer.
The grant was awarded through WFRC’s Transportation and Land Use Connection (TLC) Program. According to WFRC, the Ogden Valley project is multi‑faceted, integrating transportation analysis, land‑use planning, and community development components.
WFRC’s project description indicates that the goal is to develop the foundational planning documents needed by the newly incorporated city. Ogden Valley City will develop its first General Plan and Transportation Master Plan, establishing a long‑term vision for growth, mobility, and community character. The project will identify areas appropriate for mixed uses and opportunities to “live, work, and play,” while also addressing needs associated with hosting events during the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. The project will additionally include an audit of existing zoning regulations and recommendations for updates.
This effort will follow the city’s recent land‑use moratorium and build upon the Ogden Valley Planning Commission’s work to update the prior general plan, zoning map, and land‑use ordinances. Together, these initiatives will strengthen the Valley’s long‑range planning capabilities.
“This grant is an early honor for a city that was launched only three months ago. Even at this early stage, we can now attract more support to help the valley—one of the goals of incorporation,” said Mayor Janet Wampler. “We appreciate the letter of support from Weber County Commissioner Sharon Bolos. It’s a pleasure to work together for the benefit of the valley and its residents.”
District 5 Councilman Don Hickman led the grant application effort and will oversee the project. “This was a team effort, and I’m proud that our Wasatch Front partners showed confidence in our ability to manage such an important first step for our valley,” Hickman said. “We will use these funds to advance the General Plan’s vision for Ogden Valley, including supporting agriculture and our quality of life. With the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games only eight years away, we must understand and plan for accelerating development pressure and the infrastructure improvements we may need.”
Hickman’s work on the grant began before the city’s January 2 incorporation, shortly after his own election. He collaborated with grant experts from J-U-B Engineering to meet the December application deadline. J-U-B provided its grant‑writing services free of charge, an early benefit of the partnerships formed to support the launch of the new municipality.
WFRC is a regional planning organization serving 6 counties, 76 cities, and more than 2 million residents along Utah’s Wasatch Front. The agency coordinates long‑range transportation planning, land‑use and economic development planning, and the distribution of federal transportation funds. WFRC is staffed by 32 professionals with expertise in planning, analytics, policy, and communications.
This grant is not the only support Ogden Valley City receives through WFRC. In 2023, the Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT) worked with the Utah Legislature to create the Local Administrative Advisor (LAA) Program, designed to assist Utah’s 145 cities and towns that do not have full‑time administrative staff.
Ogden Valley’s Local Administrative Advisor is Madison Aviles, a former city manager with a master’s degree in public administration. Aviles worked with the city’s transition team and served as the project lead for Public Works and IT. She continues to support the city and assisted in securing this grant.
28 March 2026
On Thursday, March 19, 2026, the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) announced the award of a $175,000 technical service award to support Ogden Valley City’s future land‑use and transportation planning. The city will provide a $25,000 match, bringing the total project budget to $200,000 for planning work beginning this summer.
The grant was awarded through WFRC’s Transportation and Land Use Connection (TLC) Program. According to WFRC, the Ogden Valley project is multi‑faceted, integrating transportation analysis, land‑use planning, and community development components.
WFRC’s project description indicates that the goal is to develop the foundational planning documents needed by the newly incorporated city. Ogden Valley City will develop its first General Plan and Transportation Master Plan, establishing a long‑term vision for growth, mobility, and community character. The project will identify areas appropriate for mixed uses and opportunities to “live, work, and play,” while also addressing needs associated with hosting events during the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. The project will additionally include an audit of existing zoning regulations and recommendations for updates.
This effort will follow the city’s recent land‑use moratorium and build upon the Ogden Valley Planning Commission’s work to update the prior general plan, zoning map, and land‑use ordinances. Together, these initiatives will strengthen the Valley’s long‑range planning capabilities.
“This grant is an early honor for a city that was launched only three months ago. Even at this early stage, we can now attract more support to help the valley—one of the goals of incorporation,” said Mayor Janet Wampler. “We appreciate the letter of support from Weber County Commissioner Sharon Bolos. It’s a pleasure to work together for the benefit of the valley and its residents.”
District 5 Councilman Don Hickman led the grant application effort and will oversee the project. “This was a team effort, and I’m proud that our Wasatch Front partners showed confidence in our ability to manage such an important first step for our valley,” Hickman said. “We will use these funds to advance the General Plan’s vision for Ogden Valley, including supporting agriculture and our quality of life. With the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games only eight years away, we must understand and plan for accelerating development pressure and the infrastructure improvements we may need.”
Hickman’s work on the grant began before the city’s January 2 incorporation, shortly after his own election. He collaborated with grant experts from J-U-B Engineering to meet the December application deadline. J-U-B provided its grant‑writing services free of charge, an early benefit of the partnerships formed to support the launch of the new municipality.
WFRC is a regional planning organization serving 6 counties, 76 cities, and more than 2 million residents along Utah’s Wasatch Front. The agency coordinates long‑range transportation planning, land‑use and economic development planning, and the distribution of federal transportation funds. WFRC is staffed by 32 professionals with expertise in planning, analytics, policy, and communications.
This grant is not the only support Ogden Valley City receives through WFRC. In 2023, the Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT) worked with the Utah Legislature to create the Local Administrative Advisor (LAA) Program, designed to assist Utah’s 145 cities and towns that do not have full‑time administrative staff.
Ogden Valley’s Local Administrative Advisor is Madison Aviles, a former city manager with a master’s degree in public administration. Aviles worked with the city’s transition team and served as the project lead for Public Works and IT. She continues to support the city and assisted in securing this grant.
