The plan calls for an urban center off I-80 north of Magna. From that center, transit and roads would flow toward Kennecott Land's Daybreak community, already under construction in South Jordan. Along that spine would lie smaller clusters of development — "town centers," "village centers" and "neighborhood centers." Most of the development would be centered there, a corridor meandering roughly along an 8400 West alignment.

Farther west, most of the land would remain undeveloped — it's too steep, too fragile, too wild. There would be a few foothill developments, including a possible ski resort town called Soldier Flats. Other place names in the plan include Little Valley near Magna and Barney's Canyon west of West Jordan.

Whether these places would be unincorporated townships, annexed into existing cities, or one day become cities of their own remains to be seen. But county planning director Jeff Daugherty said the county's goal is to keep the planning flexible enough to fit any future jurisdictions.

And it is the county that now holds the reins. County Mayor Peter Corroon said, "This is the end, but the beginning of a new chapter in the process."

Now, the county will begin working toward adoption of the general planning principles and then the physical plan itself. Already county staff is working on creating a "community zone" that could be applied to parts of the land. Tentative plans call for a public open house in March to gather input. In April, county officials expect to meet with residents and community leaders in Magna and Copperton, and Daugherty hopes the County Council will have adopted a final plan by summer 2006.

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E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com