AMERICAN FORK — Administrators with the Alpine School District will announce in coming days the location of a new elementary school in Eagle Mountain.

"We hope to get it going as quickly as we can," said district business administrator Rob Smith, who has visited the booming northwest Utah County town about four times with the superintendent in recent weeks. "We are trying to facilitate a good option for kids and for the community as well. We have a couple options." Smith reassured a handful of Eagle Mountain residents, including some City Council members, who attended Tuesday's Board of Education meeting at Greenwood Elementary.

Five residents spoke to the board, urging the district to purchase land fast after the district decided against purchasing land in the Cedar Pass Ranch neighborhood.

"The need is still very, very great in that area, and we would hope the district and the community can work together (in finding an appropriate site)," parent Charlotte Ducos said Tuesday.

About 40 residents in the Cedar Pass Ranch — a private, equestrian-friendly subdivision that promises a quasi-rural atmosphere with big lots — attended a Board of Education meeting last month and told the district they didn't want a school in their neighborhood, which has no sidewalks and narrow streets.

They said a school may be against the homeowners association codes. Days later, the district decided against purchasing two lots in the subdivision.

"We want you to know, the size of the crowd (at last month's meeting) or whatnot was not the determining issue with the Board of Education," Superintendent Vern Henshaw said. "They evaluated the concerns. They evaluated the issues, saw there were other (options for land)." City Councilmen David Lifferth and David Blackburn said they could help the school district select another site.

Once the school district purchases land in Eagle Mountain, construction will likely begin this summer for the elementary school, which will have capacity for about 800 students.

The school would open fall 2008.

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E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com