The North Central EDA also will encourage development of a mostly vacant, 200-acre stretch of land southwest of state Route 201 and Bangerter Highway into a light-industrial business park of up to 40 buildings, the city's Redevelopment Agency reported.

"This project will put us on the map as a shiny star for West Valley City," Nevin Limburg, the city's business-development manager, told the City Council. "We're going to be in the ballgame now of having real sites, marketable sites," when manufacturers are scouting for new locations.

Developers who propose projects in the EDA are eligible to be reimbursed - from the new property taxes their improvements generate - for costs such as curbs, gutters, sidewalks and utilities. As the area is filled with projects, it is projected to hatch $51.6 million of additional property tax over a 15-year period, but 10 percent of it will be passed to taxing entities including West Valley City and Granite School District.

That leaves $46.5 million available to pay for project costs, administrative expenses and a 20 percent cut for the Redevelopment Agency's housing fund.

Already, The Argent Group, which developed South Jordan's RiverPark Corporate Center, is planning a $250-million, 1.5 million-square-foot complex with 27 buildings. The company has 115 acres under contract or in negotiation, according to Vice President Terrell Sparks.

"For us to be able to do this project, we really need your support," he said to the city council, which approved the EDA while acting as the city's Redevelopment Agency Board. "We're here for the long term in a committed partnership with West Valley City."

A separate development agreement will be negotiated with The Argent Group. It will spell out how big a tax rebate the company can receive, said Brent Garlick, the city's redevelopment director.

rwinters@sltrib.com