WALC's mission comes to life through six core programs. Together, they turn our vision of more homes and stronger neighborhoods into action across the Wasatch Region — from testimony at a local planning commission, to a bill on Capitol Hill, to a conversation with a new neighbor at the door.
Build Better Collaborative
Building more homes takes more than good policy — it takes builders, architects, planners, and lenders who know how to get projects done. Too often, the people doing this work, especially small-scale and first-time developers, operate without the networks and support that larger developers already have.
WALC's Build Better Collaborative brings these practitioners together through regular gatherings, workshops, and project tours. Participants learn from real housing projects, work through shared challenges like financing and permitting, and build the relationships that turn good ideas into homes on the ground.
Community Building and Education
Housing and land use conversations are often filled with unfamiliar terms and processes, which can make it hard for everyday residents to engage. WALC's community education program is designed to change that.
We publish plain-language explainers on how housing decisions get made, track and share relevant news coverage, and host conversations that help neighbors — whether they're attending their first planning commission meeting or serving in public office — understand the choices shaping their community.
Explore Housing & Land Use Terms · Attend an Event
Legislative & Policy Advocacy
Each year, hundreds of bills move through the Utah Legislature that touch housing, land use, transportation, and local governance. WALC tracks this legislation year-round:closely during the general session, and through ongoing conversations with lawmakers the rest of the year.
We share plain-language updates on what bills would actually do, take organizational positions grounded in our priorities, and make it easy for neighbors to weigh in when it matters most. This program is also where our statewide policy priorities — like Accessory Dwelling Units, parking flexibility, and new home choices — get turned into real legislative change.
See our Legislative Tracker · Our Policy Priorities
Local Campaigns
Some of the most important housing decisions happen at the city and county level. WALC organizes local campaigns to support zoning reforms, general plan updates, and other municipal policies that expand home choices in cities and towns across the Wasatch Region.
Through our Action Center, neighbors can find out what's happening in their own community, add their voice at public hearings, and connect with local elected officials.
Development Review
Every new home has to be approved before it can be built — usually by a planning commission, city staff, or elected officials. Too often, decision-makers hear only from people who oppose new housing.
WALC's Development Review program trains volunteers to evaluate proposed developments and land use decisions in their own communities. When a project expands home choices, supports walkable neighborhoods, or puts housing near jobs and transit, our volunteers submit comments and testimony in support. You don't need to be a planner or architect to participate,just a willingness to learn and show up.
Learn more about Development Review
Membership & Volunteer Network
None of this work happens without people. WALC's Membership & Volunteer Network is the foundation that powers everything else — a growing group of neighbors who believe the Wasatch Region should welcome more people, not fewer.
Members receive action alerts, invitations to events, and regular updates on our work, while volunteers plug in directly — reviewing developments, supporting community outreach, tabling at local events, or helping with social media and communications. There's a role for every level of experience and every amount of time.
Become a Member · Volunteer with Us
Get Involved
Every program above depends on neighbors like you. Whether you have five minutes or five hours a month, there's a way to plug in and help build a Wasatch Region with more homes, stronger neighborhoods, and opportunity for all.
Become a Member · Volunteer · Sign Up for Updates · Donate
