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Iron County approves development agreement with BZI Innovation Park for 772-acre project
Summary
The commission unanimously approved a development agreement with BZI Innovation Park LLC covering 772 acres along Iron Springs Road, including a county commitment of 400 sewer connections and provisions to oversize sewer infrastructure and build a lift station to support future growth.
The Iron County Commission on Monday approved a development agreement with BZI Innovation Park LLC that covers roughly 772 acres along Iron Springs Road in Cedar City. Planning staff said the agreement guarantees the developer access to county infrastructure and commits Iron County to reserve 400 sewer connections from the 4500 West transmission line to serve the project.
Reid Erickson, planning staff, described the agreement as a tool that secures infrastructure and predictable land‑use rules for the life of the project. As Erickson told commissioners, "we are committing 400 sewer connections out of our allotment out of the 4500 West transmission line." He said the developer will build oversized sewer infrastructure and a lift station, and the county will contribute to oversizing costs so the system can serve future development in the area.
Drake Howell, the project executive for BCI/BZI Innovation Park, told the commission the agreement also contemplates a mix of industrial and residential uses and a tax‑reimbursement structure for lots as they develop. Howell said the tax reimbursement is tracked on a per‑lot basis in the existing agreements with the inland port authority and that sequencing of lot development affects how tax increment applies over time.
Commissioners asked questions about school‑district revenue and the tax increment implications of the park's residential component. Howell said the agreements contemplate different reimbursement rates for industrial and residential lots and offered to meet with the commissioner who raised the question to provide more detail.
The commission moved and seconded the agreement and approved it by voice vote. Staff said rezones for portions of the site (residential areas) will follow the standard public process when they are proposed. The approvals included a public‑hearing step and a recommendation from the planning commission before the vote.
Next steps include proceeding with any required rezones, final engineering for the oversize sewer line and lift station, and coordination on the timing of lot development. The development agreement will be recorded according to county practice and the county and developer will follow the public processes identified in the agreement.
