At least one eastern Summit County homeowner has been added to the proposed West Hills boundaries based on a revised version of the map released earlier this month.Derek Anderson, a Salt Lake City real estate attorney and the sponsor of the effort to create a new town near Kamas and Hideout, said he was forced to add someone in to comply with the state statute regarding population. The Lieutenant Governor’s Office reviewed a modified proposal for the town in August, which included an 80% reduction in residential and commercial density plus additional acreage, and determined the town boundaries had to be redrawn because it didn’t meet the population threshold. State law mandates there be at least 100 people in a new town for an incorporation to proceed. However, West Hills had an estimated 40 households with a population of around 99, just under the 100-person requirement.Anderson had until Nov. 10 to amend his request, and he filed for a new feasibility study to be conducted on Oct. 11.The latest proposal has an estimated 43 households with between 101 and 110 people living in West Hills. There were also a few other changes to the map that helped maintain contiguity after requests from residents in the area.West Hills sponsor Derek Anderson had until Nov. 10 to amend his request, and he filed for a new feasibility study to be conducted on Oct. 11. Credit: Office of the Lieutenant GovernorAnderson said the changes led to about a 14% decrease in size. West Hills would have around 3,214 acres of private landowners, not including S.R. 248, which pushes the total area to 3,648 acres. The August proposal was 3,751 acres of private land or 3,961 acres with the highway.Many property owners around Garff Ranches have decried the proposal as an encroachment on their community and a disruption to open grazing in the area. The boundaries weave in and out of the land and each change in town lines brings West Hills closer to properties, some of which serve as links to prevent islands from forming.“After the first feasibility study was rejected, and absolutely after the second rejection, the Andersons should have realized the community did not have the support to incorporate. But they keep pushing their agenda and redrawing boundaries to get their 100 residents. Because perceivably that’s what we all want,” said a letter spearheaded by Summit County resident Lindy Sternlight and other concerned citizens.However, state law allows sponsors to “alter the boundaries of the proposed municipality and refile … with the lieutenant governor” if certain requirements are met. A property owner included in the original West Hills boundary filed for exclusion during the 30-day window, it was granted, and the second public hearing was canceled. Anderson had to modify the request alter boundaries and file a new request with the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. The second request did not meet the requirements, forcing Anderson to start again.However, there are only two opportunities for landowners within the proposed municipal boundaries to request exclusion. Both chances have already passed.The Lieutenant Governor’s Office is no longer accepting or granting exclusion requests, including those submitted by property owners that were not previously included in the boundaries. The law also states Anderson doesn’t need prior approval from a landowner to include them in the proposed boundary.West Hills’ sponsor has been adamant he’s done his best to conform to landowners’ desires as much as possible.The incorporation process is still in the initial phases, and a new feasibility study must be conducted to determine if the area is financially viable within the new boundaries. That should happen in the next 30 to 45 days. Another public hearing would be held 30 days thereafter.Then, a petition for incorporation would have to be filed by September 2025 to make it onto the general election ballot. West Hills needs registered voters within the proposed municipality to sign on. The signatures must total at least 7% of the assessed land value and 10% of the land area, based on the value and acreage of each signer’s property, according to the state. It will be the registered voters who live within the proposed West Hills to decide if the area will be incorporated or not, if the process gets to that phase. Summit County does not have the authority to approve or deny the creation of a new municipality, nor can it vote on the incorporation as a government entity or property owner.The post Third time’s the charm? West Hills redraws map to meet population requirement appeared first on Park Record.