Salt Lake County offers open-space funds if cities play nice

Salt Lake County is willing to help preserve open space in a chunk of disputed foothills land on the Salt Lake County-Davis County line — but only if everyone plays nice.

At its weekly meeting Tuesday, the County Council approved a pledge of $300,000 for open space in the 100-acre piece of land, on the condition that it be part of an amicable deal — with a willing buyer and seller — and that no condemnation be involved.

North Salt Lake City Manager Collin Wood said he appreciates the council's vote but that it's basically a moot point.

"We've been trying to work it out for two years," Wood said.

But he said Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's recent moves seeking to condemn the land mean the county's conditions probably will never be met.

Anderson is trying to condemn about 12 acres of the 100-acre chunk of North Salt Lake-owned land, 80 acres of which falls within Salt Lake City's borders. Anderson wants to keep the land as open space, as it is currently zoned by Salt Lake City. North Salt Lake wants to adjust its border with Salt Lake City, bringing all the land into North Salt Lake so that it can be partially developed.

North Salt Lake plans to develop about 30 of the 80 acres within Salt Lake City. Twenty acres would be used for residential development, while 10 would likely be used for a combination of cemetery and park — which Wood said should be acceptable to Anderson because it is considered open space under Salt Lake City's zoning laws.

"The relationship and the correspondence and the debates have been fairly agreeable up until last week," Wood told the County Council. "(Salt Lake City's attempted condemnation) would render the remaining 68 acres relatively useless."

With the vote, the County Council aimed to offer the county's help while keeping out of the dispute between the two cities — and maintaining its dedication to preserving open space along the Wasatch Front.

"This county has had a long-standing priority for preserving open space or acquiring conservation easements and the like," Councilman Mark Crockett said.

The county's Open Space Committee has recommended preserving the site as open space — but that was before the controversy erupted.

"This group puts our money where our mouth is," Councilman Randy Horiuchi said.