Armed with an open-space bond that captured 71 percent approval from voters this month, Salt Lake County Council members are poised to keep North Salt Lake's 80-acre hillside devoid of development. The council will debate - and likely vote - today on whether to zone the bench open space to protect it if North Salt Lake wins its disconnection petition in 2nd District Court. North Salt Lake wants to add housing, a cemetery and trails on a portion of the 80 acres its owns above Beck Street. The parcel sits within Salt Lake City's boundaries. Utah's capital city filed a countersuit last year, and the Salt Lake City Council has voted to shield the slope as open space. Now the county appears ready to back Salt Lake City regardless of the court decision. Earlier this month, county voters overwhelmingly approved a $48 million open-space bond to preserve park space and protect raw land across the county. If North Salt Lake prevails in court, the land in question would become subject to Salt Lake County zoning rules.

- Derek P. Jensen