The so-called enhanced use leasing plan, first conceived in 2004, would generate income for Hill to replace World War II-era facilities on other parts of the base.

In creating the partnership, which will be known as Sunset Ridge Development Partners, Woodbury is joined by privatized military housing heavyweight Hunt ELP of Texas, which has finished 15 developments worth nearly $3 billion over the past seven years. The third company, Flintridge Partners of California, recently worked with Hunt in Hawaii in a development at Ford Island for the Navy.

Woodbury vice president of acquisitions and development Jeff Woodbury said all three members of the partnership have worked together in the past and were prepared to submit a request for the Hill project long before the Air Force began accepting bids, earlier this year.

"We have always said to one another that when the request comes out we would work together to submit a proposal," Woodbury said.

The military will now enter into exclusive negotiations with the Sunset group, which is expected to propose a plan for the first phase of development, between 100 and 150 acres of the property.

Hill officials say similar projects have taken one to two years from this point for construction to begin.

mlaplante@sltrib.com