The GNAR Initiative through Utah State University is addressing the complex challenges of amenity migration and housing shortages in the Intermountain West through a series of educational webinars. These sessions explore the impacts of "Zoom Towns," short-term rental trends, and the necessity of housing assessments in gateway communities.
Analyzing Amenity Migration Trends
A series of webinars titled "Boom Town: Amenity Migration in the Rural West & The Rise of the \"Zoom Town\"" has been presented by the GNAR Initiative to explore how population shifts affect gateway communities. The series addresses the diverse ways amenity migration is experienced across the Intermountain West, noting that perspectives on these shifts create a continuum of both excitement and concern for local leaders.
Regional Development Challenges
The program includes specialized sessions focused on specific regional challenges. One session, completed on October 15, shared findings from a survey of planning and development challenges within more than 1,500 western gateway communities. This interactive session aimed to engage participants in dialogue regarding what these findings mean for GNAR communities and the necessary responses to local planning and development pressures.
Population and Mobility Shifts
Dr. Don Albrecht, the Director of the Western Rural Development Center at Utah State University, has participated in research discussions regarding current outlooks on amenity migration. These discussions, which included panelists from the USDA Resource and Rural Economics Division and Headwaters Economics, examined whether population cycles in gateway communities are consistently characterized by boom or bust trends. The panel also investigated how the COVID-19 pandemic may influence migration trends and the broader implications for how residents live, work, and play.
Case Studies in Planning
The series also includes a session focused on the successful planning approaches used in Montana. On November 19, a webinar titled "A Tale of Two Towns" highlighted how Gardiner, Montana, and Deer Lodge, Montana, utilized the Successful Communities approach to manage their respective population trends. While Gardiner dealt with a rapidly growing population, Deer Lodge worked to reverse a shrinking population. Dennis Glick, the Director and co-founder of the non-profit Future West, presented on how these communities partnered to strategize for their futures.
Addressing Housing Challenges
In a separate series titled "How to Shred GNARL(Y) Problems," the initiative focuses on tools, techniques, and resources to address housing challenges. This series includes sessions on housing assessments, which help communities determine how much housing is needed to support local economies and at what price points and for which demographics.
The Role of Housing Assessments
One session held on April 22 examined the importance of Housing Needs Assessments. Presenter Wendy Sullivan, president of WSW Consulting and a housing planner with experience in high-cost resort communities like Breckenridge, Colorado, and Jackson, Wyoming, discussed how these assessments inform municipal policy. The session detailed how such data can help communities that are currently undersupplying affordable homes for residents and local employees.
Short-Term Rental Management
The initiative also addresses the impact of short-term rentals on community character and housing inventory. A session completed on May 4 discussed how the rise of the sharing economy has altered guest accommodations over the last ten years. Presenters included Christa Watson of Granicus and John Spuhler Symliv, the former Mayor of Garden City, Utah, who served from 2010 to 2018. The discussion focused on crafting ordinances to manage short-term rental trends and minimize negative community impacts.
