The last large tract of unincorporated land available to Bountiful is on its way into the city.
Last week, the Richard Glade family submitted an annexation petition for 478 acres of prime residential development land at the southern extreme of Bountiful Boulevard. Later that same day the City Council voted to formally receive the petition.Assuming no protests are filed on the heretofore undeveloped land, the annexation could be finalized within two months.
The Glades made noises about annexing the land almost two years ago, going so far as to take City Council members on a tour of it. But early publicity made them jittery, and they never filed a formal annexation petition.
Though the parcel is so high up on the mountainside (over 5,900 feet elevation at the higher points) it will practically give you a nosebleed, there are large areas within it that unexpectedly plateau above Bountiful Boulevard, making them ideal for housing development.
With nowhere to go except farther up the mountain, flat ground is premium ground in this landlocked city. Many lots, especially newer ones, already are . . . tilted. While houses are sprouting like weeds in surrounding communities like Woods Cross and North Salt Lake, Bountiful's population is topping out at about 40,000 simply because of a lack of room.
Many lower residents have complained about the continuing moun-tainside development, degrading the view and the environment. But Ronn Marshall, an agent for the Glade family, has pointed out the area's unique topography will block many lower residents' view of the houses.
About half the land will remain open space because of overly steep slopes (developers are prohibited from building on slopes exceeding 30 percent).
City officials have long anticipated the parcel's annexation, going so far as to make preliminary plans and discuss annexation consequences with neighboring North Salt Lake.
Though the Glades balked at annexing the whole parcel in 1995, they sold 58 acres just east of Bountiful Boulevard to the Boyer Co.