Summit County buys contested Highland Flat parcel for $3.2M at I-80 / US 40 gateway

Proposed site for the Highland Flats Development. Photo: Utah Cribs

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — Summit County has completed the $3.2M purchase of the 25-acre Highland Flat parcel at the US Hwy 40 / I-80 gateway, securing part of one of the area’s most contested pieces of open land and steering it away from the dense development that drew fierce opposition five years ago.

Announced June 4, the acquisition of the property, identified as Tax Parcel SS-32-B, was funded through the county’s voter-approved General Obligation bond program, which set aside money to protect recreational open space and community-serving lands. The parcel was purchased from the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, one of two lots a developer had proposed combining into a high-density development. The neighboring 16 acre lot was owned at the time by the developer, Colbreen PC LLC.

Transportation Infrastructure

The purchase also comes amid community discussions to expand the US Hwy 40 off-ramp, which sees daily traffic backups and has been the site of repeated accidents in recent years. The parcel directly borders land that any ramp expansion would need.

The county says the acquisition is an open-space win. The parcel sits in a pocket of the US Hwy 40 / I-80 interchange, bounded by highway and interstate traffic, that is not obviously suited to the recreation uses officials describe. The release says the county intends to keep the land largely open, listing potential uses that include continued agricultural use, passive recreation such as trails, and community features like a dog park or equestrian arena, along with a possible limited community-serving facility.

“This property provides an opportunity to protect what makes Summit County special: our open landscapes, rural heritage and shared spaces,” Summit County Council Chair Canice Harte said. “Our intent is not dense development, but thoughtful stewardship that ensures this land remains accessible and beneficial to the community for generations to come.”

Past Housing Development Proposal

The purchase marks a sharp turn for a site that, in early 2021, was the center of one of a heated land-use battle. A development team led by Adam Breen proposed a 410-unit rental housing project there, drawing dozens of opponents to a nearly five-hour planning commission meeting over concerns about traffic, infrastructure, habitat loss, and a change to the area’s rural character. The debate grew so pointed that out-of-town supporters faced public scrutiny over their alleged misrepresentation of community ties. The project ultimately did not move forward.

This parcel is one of two parcels of land that would have been combined in the development proposal.

Officials tied the acquisition to development pressure expected to intensify ahead of the 2034 Winter Olympics.

“Our residents have consistently expressed that they value open space and recreation over high-density development,” County Lands and Natural Resources Director Jess Kirby said. “The community can be confident that this property will not become another dense housing project.”

Editors Note: The purchase price of the property was added to the article at $3.2M