PROVO -- Salt Lake developer Lee L. Dahl says he's steps away from resurrecting a town at the top of Spanish Fork Canyon that withered and died in the late 1980s.
Dahl said he expects to complete the financial details for the subdivision in late December or in early January 2000.Utah County's Commission gave permission for houses to be built in 1983. But the development faltered and never saw fruition.
The tiny town ultimately was dissolved by a 4th District judge's order and became Utah County's unwelcome burden.
Soldier Summit Recreation and Development Inc. has since been trying to untangle the legal and financial knots involved to free the area that lies almost on the edge of Utah County's limits for residential and commercial development.
"It's been a three-year nightmare," Dahl said in a commission meeting this summer. "We're trying to take a bad situation we've inherited and make it better. We intend on rebuilding Soldier Summit, including asking for reincorporation one day."
Dahl said Tuesday the marketing has scarcely started and 62 lots of 10 acres each have already been pre-sold.
"The interest is definitely there," he said.
The original subdivision approval allows for development of 154 lots in a critical-environment zone area along with a travel hub that includes a vehicle repair and service station and a motel.
Dahl has been asking the commission for final approval of the Soldier Summit Recreation and Development Inc. agreement since early 1999 but has been delayed by problems with title clearances and related legalities.
The commissioners have largely supported the development effort although they've been frustrated by the delays.
"We could have a happy ending for all parties involved," said Commissioner Gary Herbert. "Without this, the special service district would have to take action and spend about $30,000 to make mandated improvements. This will be a great savings to have developer help."
"I'll be glad to see it get going," Commissioner David Gardner said.
In the meantime, the development company has agreed to put in a $3.3 million water system, including new storage tanks and lines that will eventually be deeded to the Soldier Summit Special Service District.
The system replaces another one that was out of compliance and below standard, including a 50-year-old railroad tank serving as a water storage unit.
Roads have been graded and graveled in the area, but construction has been on hold awaiting the resolution of the financial and legal difficulties.