Developers to fight Alpine District

EAGLE MOUNTAIN — Developers of the land that Alpine School District wants to seize by eminent domain plan to fight in court to hold onto 10 acres of prime property the district is eyeing for a future school.

"We don't feel like we should roll over on this, because it's a significant amount of money to us," said Ryan Bybee, an owner of 110 acres in the Hidden Valley subdivision, including 10 acres along Pony Express Parkway that the district wants for an elementary school.

"We've spent a lot of money" to bring utilities to the area and get city approvals for zoning and building, he said.

In June, the school district filed in 4th District Court requests for immediate occupancy and to seize through eminent domain the 10 acres in the Hidden Valley subdivision.

State eminent domain laws allow government agencies to take land if necessary for the public good, but the government must pay landowners a fair price.

The developers disagree with the school district on the price of the land, as well as the part of the subdivision that should be used for a school.

"We spent a lot of money with our planners and engineers and identified five different locations within our 110-acre parcel," Bybee said. "And they came back and said no to them all."

Previously, district administrators said the locations the developers offered to them were too hilly and expensive to put infrastructure on the site.

Bybee, when contacted by the Deseret Morning News, said that he and his partners offered locations that weren't so hilly.

Rob Smith, the school district's administrator, did not return a message left by the Deseret Morning News on Friday.

Superintendent Vern Henshaw also did not immediately return a message Friday.

"At some point, these guys think they have the power to do whatever they want to do," Bybee said. "I think as long as there are two parties talking, they should be forced to stick it out."

Bybee and other landowners are preparing the land for development, and intended to sell it to John Ford, who was planning to build houses and businesses on it.

About three weeks ago, Ford and his partners purchased 15 acres of the land for $2 million.