A day after Salt Lake City Council members approved a preservation agreement, North Salt Lake did the same Friday. In doing so, the two cities narrowly avoided court and intervention by the Legislature.

North Salt Lake owns 80 acres on the bench, but the land sits inside the capital's boundaries. The settlement allows the suburb to take control of about 20 acres north of some wetlands. The south Davis County city can develop some 13 acres - a future master plan will call for a cemetery, park or housing. The remaining seven must remain open space.

Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County are buying for $3.5 million the other 60 acres, which will also be preserved.

"We have extremely, extremely responsible people here in North Salt Lake who are concerned about preserving land," said Mayor Shanna Schaefermeyer. "We've been getting a real black eye. We're not the bad guys in this."

A North Salt Lake attorney said the city has purchased some 115 acres of land to build parks or protect as open space in the past three years.

"We've reached a good resolution," said Councilwoman Lisa Watts Baskin. "The case is settled. The land will remain open space for our citizens to enjoy."

The settlement almost didn't happen, even with a court date set for next week.

North Salt Lake officials were ready to approve an agreement at 11 a.m., but Salt Lake City didn't have it inked yet. For the next 6 1/2 hours, the suburban officials met behind closed doors, negotiating with capital officials over the details.

Had Salt Lake City not sent the documents when it did, "we [were] prepared for litigation come Tuesday morning," said North Salt Lake City Manager Collin Wood.

hmay@sltrib.com