Did You Know?

Today's post appears courtesy of City Planner Rod Despain and is taken from the December edition of the American Fork City employee newsletter.

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The City frequently receives requests for the current population of American Fork. At present, the City's population is about 28,000 persons. Since the last census count in 2000, American Fork has grown by about 6,000 persons, an annual increase of about 900 new residents and 190 new dwellings each year. With each new dwelling:

1. The City's population is increased by an average of 3.7 persons.

2. Approximately 24,000 square feet of land is converted from agriculture to urban use.

3. Twelve additional vehicle trips per day are added to the City's street system.

4. The water system must be able to deliver an additional 325,000 gallons of water per year, have a well pumping capacity of an additional 1.5 gallons per minute, and a water tank storage capacity of about 800 additional gallons.

5. The sewage collection and treatment facilities must be able to accommodate about 400 more gallons per day.

6. An additional 1000 square feet of public park land is needed to maintain the current level of service.

With each new building permit that is issued, the City takes on additional responsibility for providing many of the services and facilities that are required to maintain a quality of life. While the impact from a single dwelling is not great, when combined with the approximately 190 other new residentces constructed during the year -- and the same number during preceding years -- the impacts become significant and require a good deal of advance planning and construction in anticipation of actual need.

To assist in meeting the future needs, the City has prepared the American Fork General Plan which provides recommendations for meeting the future needs. The current plan contains the following six primary elements, each addressing a separate area of responsibility.

1. The Land Use Element

2. The Major Street and Transportation Element

3. The Public Facilities Element (culinary water, secondary water and sewage collection system

4. An Affordable Housing Element

5. Parks and Open Space Element

6. A Storm Water Drainage Element.

These plans collectively provide the basis for the various development policies and regulations enforced by the City (zoning, subdivision, utility extension policies, etc.), for the assessment of impact fees upon new development, and for most of the capital facilities expenditures made by the City.

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Note: The General Plan is posted online under the Planning Department at. You can also access it by clicking here.