NORTH SALT LAKE — In the highest subdivisions of this bedroom community, plots for homes are being carved out of rolling foothills.

Within the next five years, government officials predict the city will be built-out, with all available land swallowed by development.

While builders are living in the moment, planning for trophy homes in remaining space, at least two residents are beginning to raise alarm.

Open space hasn't been a priority, they say.

And now city officials are considering plans to build on 100-acres of pristine foothill open space — land that has been deemed a geologic antiquity and is marked by historic terraces carved by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

"Why is this beneficial; why do they feel like they need to do this?" asked Juan Arce-Laretta, a North Salt Lake resident and former employee of Salt Lake City.

What makes the debate unique is that Salt Lake City has chimed in, much to the chagrin of North Salt Lake. Of the 100 contested acres, 80 acres are within the borders of Salt Lake City. While North Salt Lake owns the land, they cannot zone it for development until it is annexed into the city.

Over the past two years, Salt Lake has refused several petitions from North Salt Lake.

They want the land preserved.

Arce-Laretta and other open space advocates have joined that cry, approaching North Salt Lake with the idea of placing a permanent conservation easement on the land.

But talks have failed, with open space advocates saying the land is worth about $2 million and North Salt Lake leaders saying the land could be worth anywhere from $3.5 million to $10 million.

With easement talks falling apart, at least one Salt Lake City official maintains North Salt Lake residents need to pressure their elected officials not to develop the space.

"The citizens of North Salt Lake need to do the best they can do to talk to their elected officials," Councilman Eric Jergensen said. "There needs to be significant pressure from the residents of North Salt Lake."

Arce-Laretta and Joe Hansen are trying to build that support. They figure if enough North Salt Lakers speak up, elected officials will be forced to listen.

It may be the only thing that stops North Salt Lake Mayor Kay Briggs and his City Council from moving forward with development plans.

But efforts have been discouraging.

The mayor and council have admitted that a portion of the 80 acres will likely be developed. Developers have proposed plans that call for up to 25 acres to be developed — something Briggs says is the maximum the city will agree to.