Lehi's City Council is poised to approve a site plan for the 85-acre residential and retail project, which would include the state's tallest building. The council also could adopt a brand-new "sports/entertainment" zone and assign it to a huge parcel near Interstate 15.

"Then you can actually start getting into more concrete design elements," said Kent Partridge, spokesman for developer Brandt Andersen's company, G Code Ventures. "You can start designing things, deciding on building materials; it takes it past that concept to something you can actually hold in your hand."

Andersen said approvals would allow Gehry, a renowned architect, to start producing the project's still-vague details, such as what materials will be used and what shape the buildings will take.

Andersen plans to head to Gehry's Los Angeles office in a week to meet with consultants from across the nation so they can address project details.

Just one Lehi resident spoke before the Planning Commission earlier this month when it recommended approval to the City Council. While he said he supported the project, he worries Lehi's infrastructure - especially roads - could not handle the growth.

Some council members said they have heard virtually all positive comments about the development and are cautiously optimistic about approval.

"It's got potential to be a great project for Lehi," said Councilman James Dixon. "But we have to be sure we're doing the right thing for everybody involved."

Councilman Johnny Barnes acknowledged some residents would like to retain a small-town feel and the biggest challenge is to blend the city's history and traditions with the progressive plans.

"The character and personality of our community is getting people who have been here before and the new people to work together to where we're a community," said Barnes, adding that some still question whether the project actually will happen. "We've had big announcements in the past of major developments, and a lot of those have not come to fruition. So we're not going to hold our breath until we see some real progress."

But Andersen said approval would set in motion that progress.

"There's been a ton of work to get us here, and there's even more work to come after that," Andersen said Monday. "You want it done today, but it takes time to get good things right."

Andersen hopes to win final project approval in six to eight months and begin turning dirt on some of the basic infrastructure within a year.

"The hope is that, at least by this time next year, we'd have things well under way," he said. "We're already working on some of the designs, so we're really pushing things right now."

sgehrke@sltrib.com