Provo city will lend itself $2 million over the next eight years in order to buy 57.6 acres of land next to the Provo Municipal Airport.

The city's Municipal Council approved a series of resolutions Tuesday authorizing the transfer of funds and the purchase of four parcels of land to the north and the northeast of the airport.

The land falls within what's known as an airport protection zone, which limits the development options for the property. City leaders said there's a policy in place to buy land around the airport as it becomes available.

The deal had its skeptics, though, who said the purchase price -- about $35,000 an acre -- is lower than the going price for land marked for development.

"Let's be consistent with our idea of what things are worth," said Provo resident Kristen Randall, who said she was also uncomfortable with the city accruing debt for the purchase. "I think you need to be really careful in thinking this through."

She backed another audience member's suggestion that, if the city ends up making a profit by selling the land for other uses, the city share that profit with the sellers.

There are no immediate plans for the land, although development complementary to the airport -- such as commercial or light industrial projects -- could be possible.

Council Chairman George Stewart said people shouldn't assume the land is for expanding the airport.

The purchase will, however, "protect that area for city use or for some other use that is beneficial to all of us," he said.

He also said that agreeing to share any profits down the road isn't how real estate deals work.

"These are willing sellers," he said. "They want to sell at this point, knowing it could be more valuable in the future."

On Tuesday, council members unanimously approved loaning the Airport Capital Improvement Fund $2 million and authorized Mayor Lewis K. Billings to take steps to purchase the properties.

Charles Pope, whose wife is among the family members who own two of the parcels, said the family initially received an offer from a neighboring landowner of $25,000 an acre for part of the family holdings. A relative then contacted airport officials to see if Provo had any interest, and the city responded promptly with a higher offer.

Pope said they're satisfied.

"I expect to help spend the money," he quipped.

Council member Cindy Richards said she felt good about the deal because these are large parcels of land that the sellers might otherwise have trouble selling in one transaction.

"Pretty much only a city would have the resources to help them that way," she said.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.