Eagle Mountain Developer Scraps Golf Course Plans, Sparks Concerns
By Steve Gehrke, The Salt Lake Tribune
May 16–EAGLE MOUNTAIN — Promises of pristine views and formidable fairways attracted Robert Dekorver to this fast-growing northwestern Utah County city back in 1999.
From his windows, he can look all the way to the Oquirrh Mountains, Fairfield and Five-Mile Pass. He bought his home with the understanding it would abut one of three wide-open golf courses.
But now the developer, Eagle Mountain Properties LLC, has changed its plans. Last week, the Eagle Mountain Planning Commission said the developer could scrap the golf-course concept and build more commercial and residential units. In three weeks, the City Council will weigh in on the shift.
The company promises that even without the golf courses, 9 percent of the development will remain open space — 2 percent more than the city requires for a project of that size.
And, company officials say, residents will actually get bigger yards, parks and trails. Mark Madsen, a state senator and Eagle Mountain Properties’ general council, said all of those amenities will cater to the young population of Eagle Mountain better than a golf course will.
“If you want to picture Eagle Mountain’s open-space legacy up to now, picture weeds,” he said.
But Dekorver remains wary. If his view is blocked by walls, he said he would consider shipping out.
“I knew that course was going to be to the west of me — or at least open space of sorts — so I could look at the beautiful valley out here,” he said. “I don’t feel it’s right that seven years down the road someone says, ‘OK, we’re going to change everything.”"
Eagle Mountain Properties already has built 1,300 of its ultimate 22,930-unit project spread over more than 8,000 acres.
“Under the development agreement, we can move density and uses whenever we want,” Madsen said. “We’re learning as we go, and we reserve the right to do that.”
The shift in plans from golf courses to more units came, Madsen said, when the developer realized golf courses are not viable, primarily because water is scarce.
“I’m sorry if someone took a map for gospel and made life decisions based on that,” Madsen said. “I understand some people don’t know this is how things work.”
Michelle LeBaron, who owns three-quarters of an acre in the development, said this isn’t the first time the developer has reneged on promises.
In addition to taking a mulligan on the golf-course plans, LeBaron said the developers said nay to a promised equestrian center.
“They haven’t been true to their word,” LeBaron said.
When the City Council meets in three weeks, at least one council member will fight the developer’s change of plans. Councilwoman Linn Strouse wants to hold Eagle Mountain Properties to its original advertising.
“There are concerns with the lack of planning,” Strouse said. “And there are hopes that the developers would be as interested and would care as much about the community as they do about making a profit.”
Eagle Mountain’s first mayor, Debbie Hooge, saw the original development plans peppered with trees and wide-open spaces. She blames the rapid turnover in Eagle Mountain administrations and staffs — the city has had nine mayors in 10 years — for allowing developers to be “sneaky.”
“It’s easy for a developer to wait until the next cycle of elected officials and then go in and ask for something new,” she said.
Said Madsen: “That’s still no reason for the government to hold landowners hostage and force them to do a project they know will fail.”
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