Heber City Council Narrowly Approves High-density Development

The Heber City Council paved the way for a major development along Highway 40 north of town at its Tuesday meeting. With councilors in disagreement, it didn’t pass easily.

Story from KPCW.org:

The council voted 3-2 to annex almost 150 acres of county land into the city for a project in between the Utah Valley University extension and Wasatch Commons Apartments. That’ll bring 1,100 residential units, six commercial buildings, a church, and potentially a school. The development also includes a town plaza, amphitheater, and park.

_{Photo Rendering Courtesy Highlands Heber City/LAI Design Group}

The Highlands annexation will bring 1,100 residential units, six commercial buildings, a town plaza, amphitheater, park, church, and more to Heber along Highway 40. The site is located between the Utah Valley University Wasatch Campus and the Wasatch Commons Apartments. Acknowledgments were made that the project can offer the city benefits, such as trails and public places, but also that the plan is denser than what the city previously told the county it would allow. They will also negotiate with the school district if the board wants to build a school there. A 4-acre site for a church on the property is already under contract.

City planners advised the council to approve the development. That’s in part because it will add “quality neighborhoods,” gathering places, affordable housing, and recreation sites, in line with the city’s general plan.

The approval included some changes by city staff. Those were to ensure the project’s public facilities are publicly owned and that money the city gets from certain fees will pay for development rights in the North Fields. The North Fields are roughly 2,800 acres west of Highway 40 and north of Midway Lane.

Read more about this developing story at KPCW.org.