Wasatch County advanced annexation agreements with Heber City that will solidify boundaries in the North Fields area.
It’s part of an update to a 2019 memorandum of understanding between the two, which identifies annexation boundaries for Heber City. The goal, according to the Wasatch County Council, is to further protect the North Fields.
That has been a major point of contention for Wasatch County since the Utah Department of Transportation published its draft environmental impact statement for the Heber Valley corridor bypass route in January. Then, UDOT identified its preferred alternative as the option that will travel through the North Fields area from Potters Lane and 900 North.
In March, Wasatch County sent its comment to UDOT, without full support from the Heber City Council, which urged UDOT to reconsider its choice of route alternatives. The County Council cited concerns with the protection of water quality, historic preservation and the minimization of open space.
Now, Wasatch County is addressing another concern: How much land Heber City may annex once the bypass route is complete. Right now, there is no formal agreement that outlines whether Heber City may develop past 850 North on the west side of U.S. 40.
The new agreement would establish an understanding that Heber City’s northern border would not extend past those boundaries. Heber City and Wasatch County each “committed to maintaining the North Fields” as an agricultural area, per new language in a section that outlines mutual responsibilities.
“As such, zone changes, municipal annexation and extension of urban services into the North Fields should be avoided,” the memorandum states.
Wasatch County Manager Dustin Grabau said the intent is for the two entities to agree that the North Fields will not be included in Heber City’s annexation boundary, and that Wasatch County will only zone the area to promote rural agricultural residences.
Moreover, Heber City also commits to allocating its unit-based preservation fees collected from the North Village in Heber City toward land acquisition and conservation easements.
Grabau said that, rather than waiting for a more involved process, amending the interlocal agreement in a “more limited way” will allow the entities to pursue more comprehensive changes.
County Councilor Luke Searle said that the memorandum is designed to outline a cooperative relationship between the two entities.
“(Memorandum of understandings) in the past between the county and the city are a ‘good fences make good neighbors’ kind of situation, at least from the county’s perspective,” Searle said.
He said the agreement is designed to work in cooperation with Heber City and landowners to actively preserve the North Fields area.
“At least, that’s my aim,” Searle said. “It’s very clear with both of our governments and the people that this land and where it’s at, preserving what’s existing there is really important.”
With or without a bypass route, Searle said it’s about actively preserving the area.
In May, after elected officials raised concerns about the preferred bypass alternative, the UDOT informed the City Council that it was considering redesigning the route in line with some suggestions given in the County Council’s public comment.
With support from city councilors Aaron Cheatwood and Yvonne Barney and Heber City Mayor Heidi Franco, the County Council suggested that the bypass be shifted east, as close to U.S. 40 as possible. That’s to safeguard protection in the North Fields.
The County Council said the realignment would protect existing farmlands and align with the county’s goals to preserve open space.
Since then, the state department has begun collaborating with the North Fields Irrigation Company.
Apart from urging action from UDOT, the County Council said the memorandum will do more to protect the wetland area.
“We’re working on things collectively to do what we can in this area, and clearly that will change based on what is the formal (environmental impact statement),” Searle said.