As Pioneer Day becomes a memory, Utahns are getting a chance to be like Brigham Young.

Long-range planners are seeking public input in order to plan the future of land use along the Wasatch Front.

When asked if this has ever been done before, Chuck Chappell of the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) said the idea compares to Brigham Young laying out the streets of Salt Lake City.

Starting this week, open houses presenting research conducted by Wasatch Choices 2040 will be held in areas along the Wasatch Front. Wasatch Choices 2040 is a collaboration of the WFRC, Mountainlands Association of Governments (MAG) and Envision Utah.

"We don't know what's going to happen over the next 40 years, so let's look at a variety of scenarios," Chappell said. "And whichever scenario the public likes most, that's what we'll kind of work towards."

The open houses are the second step in the process. The first step was community workshops in which public input was gathered.

"We really want the public to come," said WFRC public information officer Sam Klemm. "It really validates what Envision Utah comes up with if the public participates."

Four scenarios are offered, featuring different combinations of approaches to blends of public transit, highways and neighborhood villages.

There are trade-offs to each scenario, such as commute time and environmental factors.

The open houses run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the following locations:

• Tonight at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center, 2415 Washington Blvd., Ogden.

• Aug. 3 — Columbus Senior Community Center, 2531 S. 400 East, South Salt Lake.

• Aug. 10 — Farmington Community Center, 120 S. Main, Farmington.

• Aug. 11 — Orem Senior Friendship Center, 93 N. 400 East, Orem.

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