An unprecedented turnover on the Taylorsville City Planning Commission and within the city’s planning department over the past several months has seen decades of experience and expertise move on. But despite all the changes, city officials – and current planning commission members – aren’t particularly concerned about the makeover. 

“Certainly, some quality planning department people have left recently, including (former Community and Economic Development Director) Wayne (Harper) and (City Planner) Mark (McGrath),” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “And on our planning commission, Lynette Wendel and Don Quigley served very well and were very knowledgeable. But that’s just a part of life. People move on. And I have full confidence in those replacing them.”

After serving as an alternate for several years, David Young was not only recently made a full-fledged member of the Taylorsville Planning Commission but also elected its chair. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

Last month in these pages we introduced you to Harper’s replacement. Working under a modified title for the position, new Chief of Strategic Development Dina Blaes brings decades of experience to her role. As head of the city’s planning department, she essentially coordinates and oversees planning commission activities.

Her expertise is perhaps the biggest reason why Taylorsville City Administrator John Taylor, like Overson, isn’t concerned about the diminished experience on the planning commission. 

“Dina worked in planning for Salt Lake County and has done many things in related fields for a long time,” Taylor said. “Our planning commission faces challenging decisions, particularly with our ever-growing demand for housing in Taylorsville. But I have no concerns despite the recent changes.”

When Lynette Wendel chose to step down from the Taylorsville Planning Commission after a decade of service last summer, she was replaced by Barbara Munoz. A few months later, long time commission alternate David Young was elevated to full member when Don Quigley departed.

Then during their first meeting of this year, planning commission members elected Young as their Chair and Munoz, Vice Chair.

“Certainly, we have lost some expertise; but I think we are still in good shape,” Young said. “I have attended many planning commission meetings over the years and am comfortable with our duties. And even after we make decisions another handful of former planning commission members will review them. Remember, (city council members) Anna Barbieri and Curt Cochran served on the Taylorsville Planning Commission. So did Mayor Overson. Those are qualified people to have reviewing our recommendations.”

New Taylorsville Chief of Strategic Engagement Dina Blaes (L) spends the start of each Planning Commission meeting briefing its members on recent city council activities and other issues. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

 A former mortgage banker and loan officer, Young’s career now has him selling windows for new construction. He and wife Tammy are brand new “empty nesters,” after watching all four of their daughters graduate from Taylorsville High School, the most recent last spring.

New planning commission Vice Chair Munoz earned her bachelor’s and Public Policy master’s degrees both at the University of Utah before embarking on what is now a 20-year career working with nonprofit organizations. For the past seven years she has worked for the Utah Academy of Family Physicians (akin to the American Medical Association) where she serves as associate director. 

“My husband and I moved to Taylorsville nearly 25 years ago and I have been interested in volunteering on the planning commission for many years,” Munoz explained. “In fact, I first spoke with the former mayor (Larry Johnson, 2014-17) about it. Then I reached out to Mayor Overson about it again in late 2024. I feel this is a great way to be involved in my community. Civic engagement – at the local, state or even federal level – is extremely important to me.”

With the departure of Quigley and Wendel, Marc McElreath is now the most-tenured member of the Taylorsville Planning Commission, serving since 2018. Like all the others, he’s comfortable with the recent turnover.

“I’m not concerned about planning commission (personnel) changes and I don’t think the city planning department is hurting with the changeover, either,” McElreath said. “Lynette (Wendel) and Don (Quigley) were great members of the commission and we all learned a lot from them. I’m very confident this new group will continue to accomplish good things for the city.”

The Taylorsville Planning Commission now has its full seven members. But they are currently in need of a new alternate, with Young’s move up. Anyone interested in volunteering for the group – which meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month – can get more information at taylorsvilleut.gov/government/planning-commission.