Weber County to Convene Public Listening Session For West Weber Inland Port
May 10, 2024, Ogden Utah
On May 16, 2024 at 6:00pm Weber County is convening a listening session for the public to learn more about Utah Inland Port Authority's proposed 9,000-acre inland port project in West Weber County. The public will be able to ask questions about project and receive answers from a panel of individuals that are knowledgable about it.
The location of this session is the Weber County Commission Chambers, first floor, 2380 Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT.
Members of the public interested in asking a question to the panel must write their names on a sign-up sheet before the meeting begins. The County is making available ten slots for individuals wishing to ask questions. Questions are expected to last no longer than one minute. Panelists will have three minutes or less to respond to questions.
Tentative Agenda:
Welcome, Introductions, & Project Overview – Stephanie Russell, Weber County Economic Development Director & Government Relations Liaison- Rules of Engagement – Stephanie Russell
- Public Questions & Panel Responses Members of the Panel
- Stephanie Russell – moderator
- Ben Hart – Utah Inland Port Authority Executive Director
- Charles Ewert – Weber County Principal Planner
- Chris Roybal – Northern Utah Economic Alliance President
- Daniel Stephens – The BlackPine Group Managing Partner
- Closing – Stephanie Russell
The Inland Port project aligns with the Western Weber General Plan that has been under consideration by the county for decades and was finally adopted in July of 2022. The UIPA project was first proposed in April of 2023 in a series of public meetings. In August 2023, the first resolution passed to adopt a project area of 903 acres.
On January 2, 2024, Weber County approved a resolution for the Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) to adopt a 9,000-acre parcel of underdeveloped land in the western part of the county about seven miles west of I-15 into its project area, as shown below.
The resolution was passed by the Board of County Commissioners of Weber County, consisting of Gage Froerer, Sharon Arrington Bolos, and James H. “Jim” Harvey. TechBuzz reported on this development in January of 2024.
The 9,000 acres of the proposed Inland Port fall into two parcels: Little Mountain Zone far to the west and Weber Bend Zone further east. A Union Pacific rail line bisects the southern portion of the Little Mountain Zone. Combined, the two areas are about ten times larger than the 903 acre project that was previously considered last year.
The resolution asserts that the project is expected to create thousands of new jobs, boost the local economy, access state and federal resources, and assist with the development of the West Weber Industrial District and Renewable Energy Hub.
At the January 2nd Weber County Commission meeting where the resolution was approved, UIPA executive Director Ben Hart spoke about how the project can benefit the Great Salt Lake and surrounding wetlands.
“By having this inland port financial mechanism in place, you’re actually going to have a pretty significant financial source that goes back to protect wetlands and the Great Salt Lake,” explained Hart.
“So, not only is this not going to hurt the Great Salt Lake or the adjoining wetlands, this is actually going to be a benefit.”