Border dispute still brewing between Salt Lake and North Salt Lake

Most residents know where they vote. Which school district their children will attend. What county property tax rates apply to their land.

But if a resident lives in one city and two counties, the boundaries between "where, which and what" are hazy.

Two North Salt Lake residents say officials would do best to prevent any questions of jurisdiction between the city, Davis and Salt Lake counties. North Salt Lake is within Davis County but borders Salt Lake County.

The preference for prevention: A line of open space between city and counties.

While some Draper residents have lived for years with an unclear boundary — using creative planning to determine jurisdiction — North Salt Lake resident Juan Arce-Laretta says what happened there is "too messy."

"It turned into a headache for them, and they're still dealing with all the issues," he said.

Davis County Commissioner Dannie McConkie added that jurisdiction and boundary questions could be a "huge" problem between North Salt Lake and Davis and Salt Lake counties.

"At some point, they're going to have to address it," he said. "At some point, it would seem to make some sense. There could be some discussion so they have an idea what they're dealing with."

But considering a current boundary dispute between North Salt Lake and Salt Lake City, a discussion now may be premature, said North Salt Lake City Manager Collin Wood.

Between the borders of Davis and Salt Lake counties (and North Salt Lake and Salt Lake City), there is an 80-acre parcel owned by North Salt Lake. The land, however, is within the borders of Salt Lake City, which has zoned it as open space.

Last month, the Salt Lake City Council held an open house to review a petition from North Salt Lake to disconnect the land. The disconnect, if approved, would advance an effort to have the land annexed into North Salt Lake.

Salt Lake City still has about 20 days to accept or deny the disconnect request.

"We haven't gotten specific (with plans for the land) because the first step is to disconnect, and that's where we're at now," said Wood. "We're still waiting for the final decision from Salt Lake."

But North Salt Lake is meeting with developers. In past reports, officials have said at least 30 of the contested 80 acres would be developed. That's where possible jurisdiction issues would apply.

Wood says if Salt Lake City fails to approve the petition, issues over jurisdiction would have to wait through a court battle.