Sorenson said Friday that the development his company will build will be better than what Bluffdale had planned because it will accommodate a variety of uses, including commercial and multi-family housing. Building denser housing allows more people to afford a home, he said.

The company can now begin the process of annexing the 4,000 acres into Herriman, which, according to state law, can't accept the land until Jan. 1 next year. Meanwhile, the land's owners will have to file with the lieutenant governor's office, which will convene a boundary commission to consider the request.

Any bordering municipality or landowner in the area will be able to bring objections to the commission during that time. If the commission approves the annexation, the county surveyor will then evaluate the new city border to ensure it is correct and legal. If the surveyor approves, the land will then become part of Herriman.

"This is probably the largest disconnection case in the history of the state of Utah," said Hollis Hunt, one of the company's attorneys. "It's going to have a serious impact on future disconnection cases."

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