Lambert, who is also an attorney, said he expects the two cases will be combined at some point.

Anderson's spokeswoman Deeda Seed said the mayor does not comment on pending litigation.

In the petition, North Salt Lake argues that Salt Lake City is unable to provide services such as sewer, water and public safety to the land. North Salt Lake has access to 80 acres and could easily supply services there.

Lambert maintains the land has important benefits to Salt Lake City residents as open space and is a key amenity.

"We see genuine value to natural open space," he said. "We can't always measure (value) in terms of economic development potential. . . . This really is a question of further subdivisions and development vs. preservation of some of the foothills as natural open space."

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