Independence incorporation filed

HEBER CITY — Independence, Utah, could be the state's 245th, 246th or 247th town depending on how the wheels of government grind in coming weeks.

The new town, located on 9,175 acres of land in Wasatch County, would be across U.S. 40 from the proposed town of Aspen, Utah, which was denied in November because of a pending annexation petition.

Aspen, Utah, is the dream town of Arizona developer Dean Sellers, who plans to build a world-class family town just south of Heber. Eventually, a ski resort and 18-hole golf course could adjoin Aspen, Utah, which could be built on 8,366 acres in Daniels Canyon.

Three groups of residents and one water company have filed for annexation into the nearby town of Daniel. Of the four petitions, only one is meant to avoid the Independence incorporation. The others seek to avoid the Aspen incorporation.

Independence petition sponsor Mel McQuarrie, a Heber City resident who owns a civil engineering firm in Heber City, originally filed for incorporation Oct. 12, but county officials denied the incorporation because of an incomplete land survey.

The Wasatch County Surveyor's Office began reviewing the newer, and more lengthy, land description Monday.

If all of the land values and land areas add up to correct amounts, Independence could find itself with the stamp of approval from Wasatch County and the Lieutenant Governor's Office within the next two months.

About 150 residents live in the proposed boundary for Independence.

Aspen and Independence, if approved, could be joined by a town called Hideout, located on the east side of Jordanelle Reservoir.

Approval for all would make for three new towns in Wasatch County.

Richard Sprung, a real estate agent for a luxury subdivision in Hideout Canyon, filed an incorporation petition in November for Hideout, which would eventually include more than 300 luxury homes and the Todd Hollow Apartments, located on state Route 248.

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com