(2/14/99)

One of Utah's newest cities is starting to take shape. Sixteen miles west of Lehi is the city of Eagle Mountain. News Specialist Angela An explains why many other cities are watching Eagle Mountain with a hawk's eye.

It's not very often you catch a city being built from scratch.

In December 1996, Eagle Mountain became the third largest Utah city in terms of area. Salt Lake and St. George are the top two.

Eric Jones, of Eagle Mountain Properties, says, "We installed a sewer system, a water system, an underground telephone system, and an underground power system."

Eagle Mountain also has fiber optic cable installed within the city's 42-square mile boundary. With 400 families now living in town, Eagle Mountain is expected to add more than 70,000 residents in the next decade.

Jones says, "It has it's own government, the mayor and city council, which has been selected. It has a fire station and a fire truck, so is it fully independent."

In the next few years, Eagle Mountain developers plan to add a new city police department, and build a library along with a town grocery store-- even an airport.

Many residents say Eagle Mountain is unique in the fact that it preserves open space while providing affordable housing.

Lisa Blakemore of American Dream Real Estate, says, "Once they get out here, they buy. It's an amazing thing."

Forty-percent of Eagle Mountain land will be designated open space. Every subdivision will have its own park.

These are visions that seem to attract people looking for quality of life. Blakemore says, "My goal is to have my children raised in a safe, convenient environment that we don't lose sight of what the wild west was."

Many other cities plan to use Eagle Mountain as a model city in preserving open space while meeting the demand of growing populations.