Since Spanish Fork approved a massive commercial development at North Park, residents have been eager for details. And if it seems like the wait for those details gets longer every day, it's not just your imagination.

Richard Mendenhall of Westfield Properties, which is developing the 36-acre site with Woodbury Corp., said those details will be announced by early September -- possibly earlier, depending on when the businesses complete their plans.

"The city is enthusiastic and supportive. I think the tenants are committed," Mendenhall said. "This is one that's moving on track and an ordinary pace. We're optimistic. We expect everything to work itself out."

Construction is expected to begin not long after the announcement is made, and Mendenhall said the development, located at the Interstate 15-U.S. Highway 6 interchange, should open between August and October of 2008, "if everything goes through without a hitch."

Several months ago, Mendenhall said details would be coming in May. As May passed, Mayor Joe Thomas said he expected an announcement this week. That announcement did not come, and Thomas said he is pushing the developers for a quicker announcement.

Assistant city manager Seth Perrins said he has been skeptical about expected dates for the announcement.

"I have always told people you'll know when there's an announcement when they make it," he said. "We've heard rumor or speculation that there would be an announcement in February, then in March, April, May, June."

Mendenhall said the delays are simply part of a normal process.

"The lawyers all get involved and they all find things to be concerned about that have to be ironed out," he said.

According to Thomas, committees for two big box anchor stores recently approved plans for opening at North Park, though Mendenhall said no plans have been finalized.

Thomas said the development, which will be partly modeled on The Meadows in American Fork, is expected to include two or three anchor stores, four restaurants and numerous smaller stores.

"The rumors are flying all over the place and many of them are just that, rumors," Thomas said.

First proposed more than a year ago, the North Park project gained approval from the Spanish Fork City Council in January. Some residents opposed the project because it will force the removal of a city park at the site, which the city plans to relocate. Residents of a trailer park also will be forced to find new homes.

Supporters of the development said it will bring increased sales tax revenues into Spanish Fork and give residents access to shopping and dining opportunities that are currently only available to them in Provo and Orem.

Jeremy Duda can be reached at 344-2561 or jduda@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C4.