Is Managing Growth as Simple as Not Approving Anymore?
- melissa4em
- Oct 6
- 2 min read
Growth, Traffic & Transparency: What You Deserve to Know
Lately, traffic has become one of the top concerns I hear from Eagle Mountain residents. Many are asking:
Why does it feel like we’ve approved so many high-density homes?
Can’t the city pause development or demand more roads before building happens?
Let’s address these concerns directly, with facts:
1. State Law & Vested Rights
Under Utah law, once a developer receives project approval under the city’s zoning and ordinances, their rights become vested. This means:
The city cannot retroactively change or revoke their project.
A general moratorium on building is not legal unless the city can prove an urgent, specific public health or safety concern.
Trying to “unapprove” projects would lead to lawsuits we would lose—costing taxpayers and damaging trust.
2. Why It Feels Like a Boom Right Now
What many don’t realize is that most high-density development was approved long before 2018—some even in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Those older approvals are just now being built out.
Since 2018, the majority of newly approved development has shifted toward medium and larger lot single-family homes, not apartments or townhomes.
3. What We Can Do Going Forward
While we can’t force major infrastructure to be built before homes, we can:
Update and enforce our impact fees regularly (at least every two years) to ensure new development helps pay for roads, utilities, and public safety.
Improve communication so residents aren’t caught off guard. Many traffic headaches happen simply because people aren’t notified about detours, road construction, or development timelines.
Plan infrastructure smarter by syncing future development approvals with realistic transportation timelines and funding strategies.
4. See the Facts for Yourself: Master Development Agreements
To provide transparency, here’s a chronological list of all major Master Development Agreements (MDAs) in Eagle Mountain. These legal documents define what was approved, when, and under what conditions.
Click any link to read the original agreements or see if they’ve been amended. I believe you deserve direct access to this information, not filtered summaries.
Eagle Mountain MDAs – Chronological List
1997
1998
1999
2003
2004
2010
2011
2012
2013
2016
2018
2021
2022
I live here too. I understand the frustration, and I believe we need leadership that’s honest about where we are—and focused on practical, legal solutions that actually improve things.
Let’s manage growth better together.—Melissa
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