HIGHLAND — Developers are working with Highland officials to transfer a planned 300-acre development from Draper to Highland.

The development is located south of SunCrest. Developers say they want to change cities because it would be difficult for Draper to provide utility service to the outlying area. Highland is better situated to provide the needed services.

Draper's city center is located about 15 miles to the north — on the other side of Traverse Ridge — while Highland's center is about 3.5 miles to the south.

"It would be problematic for Draper to keep extending itself," said Chris Schulz of Symphony Homes, which is under contract to buy the 300-acre area from a conglomeration of private owners. "It makes more sense for us to be in Highland."

Schulz said at least 30 percent of the area would be designated as open space, which would be a great contribution to Highland residents.

"I think there's some real benefits for Highland residents by us being in Highland," Schulz said.

At a Highland City Council meeting on Nov. 15, Schulz presented the idea. Council members were noncommittal, citing the fact that the land is still in Draper. Mayor Jess Adamson told Schulz to begin the separation process from Draper, and if it is approved, the council would then address the issue.

David Dobbins, Draper's Community and Economic Development director, said city officials have met with Symphony representatives but still "don't really know" what the company wants or why. The disconnection petition has not been submitted, he said.

"They've mentioned as they're looking at developing that it might be, in their view, easier for them to be part of another city," Dobbins said. "We're working with them, but we don't have any idea why they think it would be easier for them."

Depending on the amount of open space set aside, the development would contain roughly 210 acres of home sites. Highland city manager Barry Edwards said the area, if annexed, would be subject to the R-1-40 zone, meaning builders could put one home per acre.

However, city development code allows a higher density for developments that contain at least 30 percent open space, meaning the development could possibly contain up to 294 homes.

Draper has not yet established zoning for the area, Dobbins said, because of an agreement with the land owners. Zoning ordinances would have to be negotiated between city officials and Symphony Homes.

If approved, the annexation would increase the land area of Highland (which is presently 7 square miles) by about 0.07 percent; however, the 294 homes would amount to an increase of about 11 percent to the approximately 2,600 homes in the city at present.