Now, city and county leaders are taking their first steps in creating Legacy North, a highway to go through western Davis up to the Weber County boundary.

Tuesday, the County Commission approved hiring a contractor to appraise two parcels of land. The land is undeveloped and could be bought as Legacy North right of way.

Although the Utah Department of Transportation doesn't have any plans to extend Legacy to Weber County - which could take 20 to 30 years - the county wants to preserve a corridor.

County commissioners said they want to bypass any condemnation issues if that land is developed. Plus, they want to make the most of a state offer that's good for the next two years to match money that cities put in toward corridor preservation.

A $10 increase in the county's motor-vehicle registration fees passed last year allows the county to bring in $2 million in the next two years for right-of-way acquisition. And one reason to use that money now - the current housing market.

"Land values today aren't even what they were six months ago, or even a year ago," said Scott Hess, the county's community-preservation planner, who's overseeing the corridor project.

The appraisals are of 5 acres in unincorporated Davis County west of the Kaysville-Layton boundaries and 7 acres in West Point.

mariav@sltrib.com