Tug of war over open space

NORTH SALT LAKE — Developers, conservationists and city leaders are fighting over 80 acres of pristine Salt Lake City open space.

And while the tug of war isn't expected to end anytime soon, North Salt Lake city officials met with developers behind closed doors this past week to discuss the latest potential deals for 80 acres of pristine open space.

While the meetings were closed to the public, the Deseret Morning News discovered at least one developer has proposed a 70-lot subdivision be built on the open space that North Salt Lake is trying to wrest away from Salt Lake City.

The 80-acre parcel is owned by North Salt Lake but sits within Salt Lake City's borders. The cities have been fighting over the land for two years, arguing whether it should be preserved or developed.

The battle should come to a head later this month when the Salt Lake City Council convenes a public hearing on a petition that would pave the way for North Salt Lake to take over the land.

Meanwhile, North Salt Lake officials are planning ahead.

The Morning News obtained plans made for a Bountiful developer showing a subdivision on some 25 acres of the disputed open space.

The plans, which have also been given to North Salt Lake officials, were made for Sky Properties — a firm already developing several phases of a large subdivision in the foothills just north of the controversial parcel.

Even now housing plots are being carved into the hillside while the firm seeks to buy and build on remaining open space.

While at least two residents actively oppose any development, North Salt Lake officials say they are trying to do what is best for constituents.

"There are those people that don't want anything up there," said North Salt Lake Mayor Kay Briggs. "Why not put it here?"

The city held the closed-door meeting to meet with developers and open-space advocates. Sky Properties president Scott Kjar was in attendance.

In the coming months, officials will make a decision based on plans they heard at the meeting. Briggs said developers were "talking very good prices."

"I think that that's probably some of the most prime real estate in all of Utah," he said.