Weber County hears pitch to join Far West Landing CRA; commissioners ask for development agreement and safeguards

Far West City and a private developer asked Weber County on July 21 to join a proposed Community Reinvestment Area called Far West Landing and to participate in property-tax increment financing to help pay for public infrastructure.

At a commission work session, Doug Larson, presenting for the development team, told commissioners the project area covers about 50 acres and that the city is proposing a 15-year participation term with a 75% county participation rate in the property-tax increment. "The city's asking for a 15 year term, 75% participation," Larson said during the presentation.

The Nut Graf: Commissioners and county staff said they are open to participation but want the development agreement between the city and the developer finalized first and want the county's participation agreement to include firm trigger dates, clawbacks and caps so the county is protected if the project does not meet milestones.

Larson and city staff provided the commission a package of estimates and commitments: a 2024 baseline valuation for the roughly 50-acre area of about $9.8 million; an…