Kris Nilsen serves the residents of West Bountiful in a dual capacity as the City Engineer and the Land Use & Zoning Administrator, according to the city's Community Development and Engineering department webpage. In these roles, Nilsen is part of a department responsible for a wide array of municipal functions that shape the city's physical landscape and regulatory environment. The department's responsibilities include managing Planning & Zoning, Business Licensing for various categories such as Commercial, Home Occupation, Solicitors, Temporary Permits, and Beer Licenses, as well as the review, approval, and inspection of Building Permits. Additionally, the department oversees yard regulations regarding building setbacks and height, conditional and permitted uses by zone, the General Plan, Moderate Income Housing planning, and zoning maps. The department also provides support to the Planning Commission and handles the enforcement of city ordinances that do not require police intervention.
Beyond land use and zoning, the engineering side of the department, which Nilsen leads, manages facilities and/or public works design and planning, design standards, road design, and the review and inspection of new construction building permits. The engineering division also provides information regarding FEMA flood potential. Residents can contact Nilsen via email at KNilsen@wbcityut.gov or by phone at (801) 292-4486.
In professional practice, Nilsen provides technical analysis and staff reports to the West Bountiful City Council to assist in municipal decision-making. For example, in a memorandum dated April 17, 2026, Nilsen provided a technical analysis regarding a request to defer the construction of public improvements for the Pope property located at 1188 West 400 North. This request involved a two-lot subdivision proposed by Chance Pope that had already received preliminary plat approval from the Planning Commission. Nilsen's analysis explored whether the city's interests would be better served by deferring the installation of public improvements, such as curb, sidewalk, asphalt, drainage, and streetlights, which are generally required to meet the city's design standards under WBMC 16.20.020.
In that specific analysis, Nilsen noted that while the city has previously granted deferrals for individual building permits when improvements were not contiguous with existing infrastructure, it is not bound by that precedent in every case. Nilsen suggested that deferring improvements on 400 North might be beneficial because the area is expected to be part of a larger design project spanning from 1450 West to 1100 West. A larger project design would allow for more comprehensive and efficient grading and drainage considerations. Nilsen also pointed out that the existing centerline grade of this section of 400 North is near flat, and installing frontage improvements immediately might necessitate regrading existing asphalt to match the new curb slope.
What this means for West Bountiful
For West Bountiful residents, Kris Nilsen's work ensures that new developments and infrastructure projects align with city design standards and long-term planning. His technical oversight of zoning, building permits, and road design helps maintain the community's organized growth and helps the City Council make informed decisions regarding public improvements and land use.
