Approval came after concerns about building density, tax increment financing and water were raised during public comment by area residents.

The Nordic Village project area encompasses 512 acres near Eden in the vicinity of 3567 E. Nordic Valley Road, where resort-oriented development with single- and multifamily dwelling units, hotel rooms and commercial space is planned.

The plan calls for the construction of 428 condo units, 159 chalets, 50 employee housing units and 230 hotel rooms, as well as resort amenities like new ski lifts, trails, parks, a tubing hill, an ice skating rink, an amphitheater and a pond with a boathouse. Moreover, roughly 56,000 square feet of commercial building space is slated for development.

Prior to the roll call vote, county officials ranging from Commissioners Jim Harvey and Gage Froerer to Economic Development Director Stephanie Russell and Community Development Director Sean Wilkinson attempted to address some of the public concern.

It was noted that issues of water rights are handled by the Utah Division of Water Rights and that the County Commission does not have authority in those matters.

The prospective nature of the project area plan also was emphasized, as was the status of the development agreement between the county and Nordic Village Venture LLC as the governing document for future development.

“This has nothing to do with county development codes. It has nothing to do with the county development agreement or the processes that the developer will still have to continue to go through to make sure that they’re in compliance with that agreement,” said Russell, who was participating remotely during the meeting.

“These are just projections as it relates to potential development of that property. As it states in the general plan, and with this particular project, (developers) do have an opportunity to add additional density. So, we built that into the finance mechanism; we built that into the model. That doesn’t mean it’s going to happen, but it’s there if it does happen.”

Also among the approved action items on Tuesday’s commission meeting agenda was an agreement by and between the county and GSBS Architects for the schematic design, development, construction document preparation, bidding phase and construction phase of the Weber County Jail expansion to include a 37,000-square-foot medical and mental health facility.

Those services will cost the county $1.8 million as it seeks to upgrade the 12th Street correctional facility, which currently has just six medical cells.

“This facility will provide services and protection for some of our most vulnerable individuals within our population,” Chief Deputy Phillip Reese of the Weber County Sheriff’s Office said during the meeting.

Tuesday’s meeting can be viewed in its entirety on the county’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDo7voUqBoI/.