Jason Boal, AICP
Urban Planner
Snell & Wilmer
Jason Boal is a Certified Planner (AICP) who was elected to serve as the APA Utah Chapter President starting in 2025. He is employed the Salt Lake City offices of the law firm Snell & Wilmer as an Urban Planner. Previously, he was the Deputy Director of Development Services for Ada County, Idaho. Prior to that, he was the Planning & Building Director in Teton County, Idaho, as well as the same role in Victor City, Idaho. He also worked as a Planner in Latah County, Idaho and Heber City, Utah, after getting his start in the planning profession with Epic Engineering P.C. in Heber City, Utah. Jason taught land use courses as an adjunct professor at both Boise State University and the University of Idaho. He has served in several positions of leadership for APA Idaho and APA Utah, most recently he was the Awards Committee Chair and Co-Legislative Committee Chair for APA Utah. Jason received a Bachelor of Science in Geographic Information Systems from Brigham Young University and a Master of Science in Bioregional Planning and Community Design from the University of Idaho. In his spare time Jason enjoys traveling with his family, backpacking, camping, playing hockey as well as restoring/building cars and motorcycles.
Session(s):
Legal and Land Use Aspects of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) »
APA Utah 2026 Spring Conference: Bryce Canyon, April 10, 2026 9:00 amBattery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are rapidly becoming integral components of modern electric grids, supporting renewable integration, grid reliability, and energy resilience. Yet, BESS installations—especially large-scale facilities—raise complex legal and land use challenges for communities unaccustomed to regulating this evolving technology. This session will equip planners, land use attorneys, and local officials with actionable insights on how to incorporate BESS into zoning codes, address statutory and administrative constraints, and balance community safety with deployment goals.
“Where Everyone Knows Your Name:” Ethics Challenges in Utah’s Small Towns and Rural Places »
APA Utah 2026 Spring Conference: Bryce Canyon, April 9, 2026 2:15 pmIn Utah’s small towns and rural places, governance responsibilities and personal relationships inevitably overlap, creating unique ethical challenges. While applicable to all locations, this interactive session is tailored for elected officials, planning commissioners, planners, and other decision-makers from Utah's small towns and rural places. Participants will learn to navigate conflicts of interest, dual relationships, transparency, and accountability issues specific to planning in Utah’s small towns and rural places. Leave with a better understanding of best practices, recent updates to state law, and reference materials you can use immediately in your community.
E-Bike Pathway Management: What’s Working, What’s Not, and What’s Next »
APA Utah 2026 Spring Conference: Bryce Canyon, April 9, 2026 10:15 amAs e-bike use continues to grow, communities are facing new challenges on shared-use paths and trails, including safety concerns, user conflicts, and evolving regulations. This facilitated roundtable invites participants to share experiences, explore current policies, and discuss practical strategies for managing e-bike use. The session is designed to be highly interactive, with the group working together to develop actionable ideas and recommendations related to policy, design, education, and enforcement that can be applied in their own communities.
Welcome Message: APA UT President »
APA Utah 2026 Spring Conference: Bryce Canyon, April 9, 2026 8:30 amOpening remarks and welcome from the APA Utah President.
The Everything Bagel Approach to Development Agreements »
2025 APA UT Fall Conference, October 10, 2025 3:00 pmThis session will explore how to construct project specific development agreements that address a wide variety of items, but not too many items can create the right balance for the community and developer for a successful project.
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