Salt Lake County is poised to join Salt Lake City today in a pledge to preserve 80 acres of the ancient Lake Bonneville bench as open space.

North Salt Lake, which owns the land, is battling Utah's capital in court to have the hillside disconnected in order to erect houses, pave trails and build a cemetery on the slope. Salt Lake City leaders hate the idea, pointing to a 10-year-old action in which they chose to zone the acreage open space.

Now, even if North Salt Lake prevails in court, the expected County Council action likely lances any chance of development.

"I hope it sends a message that we are serious," said Salt Lake County Council Chairman Cort Ashton, who spearheaded the resolution. "The business of government is sometimes to restrict property rights to protect the greater good."

North Salt Lake Mayor Kay Briggs insists the action hit him "cold."

"What you've got is two bullies saying, 'We know how to beat a tiny little city. We will cut their throat or cut their wrists so they don't even have a chance of winning," he said. "It's our private property, but I've never received an invite to discuss it."

Briggs argues his plan simply would improve entry points to the hill - most of the land beyond the Bonneville Shoreline Trail would remain pristine, he says - while the development would generate money to maintain trails and provide police and fire protection.

If a 2nd District judge grants the disconnection, the land would become part of unincorporated Salt Lake County.

Even though she considers that a long shot, County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson says it is important to signal to North Salt Lake how the county would act.

"I'm glad that we're making a statement," said Wilson, who is running for Salt Lake City mayor. "You can get up on that bluff and feel you're miles away from an urban center. To lose that would be a great loss to the community."

The move also burnishes Ashton's green legacy - November's proposed $48 million open space bond is his brainchild - and comes, perhaps surprisingly, from a Draper-based Republican whose district stretches across the sprawling south valley.

"Open space is what makes good communities great," Ashton said. "That's one of the things I recognize most that really provides recreational opportunities and a sense of sanity."

Due to the unique characteristics of the bench, the capital chose to protect it in 1995, notes City Councilman Eric Jergensen. Last year, his council further tightened zoning restrictions, preventing any development on the land that once allowed parks and cemeteries.

"I hope this is not allowed to be turned into a Rocky [Anderson] versus North Salt Lake issue," he said. "The council took this action. We appreciate Salt Lake County's endorsement of what we felt was a policy decision."

Until this week, North Salt Lake City Manager Collin Wood thought he had an ally in the county. He even suggested in a recent court affidavit that the County Council would be sympathetic to the push for disconnection.

"Definitely," Wood said Monday. "I was wrong."

County Councilman Joe Hatch takes issue with the mixed message, suggesting Wood took liberties in the affidavit.

"This property is in my district," Hatch said. "He has never spoken to me."

Hatch went on to say the affidavit may have the opposite effect that Wood wanted.

"He made the council mad. We better make it clear to the world where we stand."

djensen@sltrib.com