Neighboring cities find accord on annexation

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Eagle Mountain Mayor Kelvin Bailey may have come up with a compromise and solution to problems involving a proposed annexation being considered by Saratoga Springs.

Eagle Mountain has been considering protesting the plan with the Utah County Boundary Commission.

Development consultant Mark Palesh says Millenium Associates likes the plan, and Saratoga Springs officials are writing a letter saying they agree to Bailey's terms.

Bailey has asked that Millenium Associates pull 80 acres from the 786-acre Mount Saratoga annexation request and allow Eagle Mountain to annex those 80 acres.

That would avoid splitting the Pony Express Boulevard road down the middle, allow Eagle Mountain to recoup some of the money the city is spending on road improvements and head off taking the dispute to the boundary commission for settlement.

"We like it. It's totally acceptable. We think it's a good idea," Palesh said Wednesday morning. "Everyone seems to be on board with this. It looks to me like Mayor Bailey pulled this off."

Palesh said if the protest period ends on Dec. 25 without a formal protest registered from Eagle Mountain, the annexation can be certified and move forward.

"It's a great Christmas present," he said.

Ken Leetham, Saratoga Springs city administrator, said his council is receptive to the compromise and plans to hold a public hearing on the amended annexation in January.

Millenium Associates plans to develop a major residential community on the land — minus the 80 acres — between U-73 and Pony Express Boulevard. It will include single-family homes, condominiums, a number of themed villages, parks, trails and open space for the general public.

Eagle Mountain City Administrator Chris Hillman said his city has spent a lot of money on improvements in the general area of the annexation and will still lose money.

Hillman said Bailey sent a letter on Nov. 20 to Saratoga Springs Mayor Timothy Parker promising not to fight the annexation if the 80 acres were allowed to be annexed to Eagle Mountain.

Hillman said the proposal resolves the legal issue involving the creation of islands of unincorporated land left isolated between the communities.

Millenium Associates will pay the annexation costs of bringing the 80 acres into Eagle Mountain, Hillman said.

"This is a win-win for everybody," Bailey said. "Although Eagle Mountain loses its ability to realize a return on its significant utility infrastructure investment, it recognizes the rights of property owners to decide which city they want to be a part of."

Eagle Mountain has oversized the utility lines put into the area in anticipation of future growth. Hillman said that capacity will go largely untapped and that hurts.

"We could really use those utility connections to help pay for our utility system we upsized to provide service to that entire area."

But Hillman said overall, city officials are pleased.

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