City Council members refused to change the city's boundary with North Salt Lake to allow that Davis County city to develop housing, a cemetery and a park on one of the last undeveloped areas of the ancient Lake Bonneville bench.

In doing so, Salt Lake City officials hope to not only preserve those 80 acres, but also protect the integrity of the city's open-space zoning.

"I hope it sends a clear message to individuals and potential developers that the open-space zone in Salt Lake City is not [about] just another vacant parcel of property somebody can buy for development," said open-space advocate Robin Carbaugh, who was at City Hall to track the vote.

Tuesday's decision probably sends the issue to court. North Salt Lake wants to control land that it owns. But Salt Lake City officials zoned the land open space and believe that zoning should stand.

However, there may still be room for negotiation with North Salt Lake, which means there could be some housing on the property, which sits near Ensign Peak and offers views of the city skyline as well as the Great Salt Lake.

Before Tuesday's vote, Salt Lake City council members had hoped to convince North Salt Lake to develop just 10 acres of housing, along with a cemetery. Salt Lake City Council Chairman Dale Lambert said the council is still willing to talk about that tentative proposal.

Ironically, North Salt Lake initially proposed 10 acres of housing, but the capital city rejected that plan last year. And now that developers have apparently offered millions of dollars for the land, North Salt Lake is more interested in developing around 20 acres into a neighborhood. In fact, a representative for Ivory Homes was at Salt Lake City Hall to watch the vote. North Salt Lake officials had already said they wanted to preserve 50 acres as open space.

"I don't think the council is willing to go back to 10," said North Salt Lake Mayor Kay Briggs. "They'd rather fight it in court."

Noting that he, too, is willing to continue negotiations, Briggs said his city wants the money from selling some of the land to build parks, trails, a fire station and help pay off its $7 million golf course bond.

He accused the Salt Lake City Council of denying the boundary adjustment to protect their political careers. "They are all afraid about getting re-elected," said Briggs, who is also up for re-election this year.

All four Salt Lake council members who are up for re-election - Carlton Christensen, Eric Jergensen, Dale Lambert and Jill Remington Love - voted to protect the land. Dave Buhler and Nancy Saxton joined them.

Only Van Turner wanted to give North Salt Lake control of the land because it owns the property. "That's the fairest thing we could do."

But other council members believe homes would change the character and location of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. A resolution noted it would be unfair for North Salt Lake to allow private developers to build on land that it obtained decades ago through eminent domain to provide water.

And the majority praised the land's uniqueness.

"I've come to love the property, too, and can't wait to get back up there with my family," said Love. "It really is spectacular."

It is unusually wide - at 1,000 feet - formed by 500 years of being battered by waves from Lake Bonneville at the end of the Ice Age.

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, who skipped Tuesday's meeting to meet with dignitaries from Thailand, said last week he hoped the council would reject North Salt Lake's request. "We have a huge obligation to the future to preserve these places," he said.