Work to begin on HAFB business park

A 550-acre parcel on Hill Air Force Base's west side that has been "underutilized" for over 60 years is a step closer to becoming a business and technology park, Hill officials announced this week.

It's uncertain when construction will begin, but the first phase will include a 44-acre space and missile complex, with office space for about 2,000 government and contractor employees, base officials said in a press release. Commercial businesses are also expected to be part of the first phase.

The development will stretch over four cities' boundaries: Clearfield, Sunset, Roy and Riverdale, according to Clearfield Mayor Don Wood. Clearfield and Roy will likely be home to the two largest parcels of development.

A private company will oversee construction of all buildings and eventually lease the facilities back to the Air Force and other defense-related and commercial businesses.

The entire "west-side development project" could take 20 years to complete, according to a Hill official.

Doug Clark, managing director of business growth in the Governor's Office of Economic Development, said the location will be one of the most efficient in the state for future employment.

The land sits alongside Interstate 15 and is close to Interstate 84 and a future commuter-rail line. By localizing some of the jobs for which Davis County residents currently commute outside of the county, there could be shorter commutes, Clark said in the news release.

Wood said the project is designed to give the base some new office space and replace some deteriorating buildings. The people who will work in new offices will need to eat, and Wood said the development would likely include some restaurants, which would increase sales-tax revenue for the cities. There's also a potential of a motel coming to town, Wood said.

"It helps put the city in a better light in terms of being economically viable and being able to sustain retail and businesses," Wood said.

Clearfield city manager Chris Hillman said Wednesday that his city's knowledge about the project is limited right now, but he looks forward to meeting with neighboring cities and Hill administrators to find out more.

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com; sspeckman@desnews.com