Courtesy Utah Inland Port Authority

In a unanimous vote Thursday, the Utah Inland Port Authority board adopted the Pony Express Project Area as part of a plan that calls for a “rural-focused” economic development project spanning more than 1,700 acres across a portion of Cedar Fort and Fairfield.

Through the Pony Express Project Area, the port authority aims to stimulate economic growth in the western rural region of Utah County, an area dominated by population increases in both Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs.

The project purportedly would support infrastructure investment, high-wage job creation and targeted business recruitment.

“The area is poised to benefit from improvements to transportation, utilities, broadband, and logistics systems that support long-term economic resilience,” the plan proposal states.

At Thursday’s board meeting and panel discussion, town leaders, local stakeholders and community members weighed in on the project and potential benefits.

Courtesy Utah Inland Port Authority

Cedar Fort Mayor Wyatt Cook said the town has seen minimal growth. But as more residents continue to migrate to the west side of the county, he believes new infrastructure is needed to support future population increases.

“This project area would significantly help with that,” he said. “Creating that infrastructure, planning for that infrastructure and doing it the right way, still keeping kind of a small, tight-knit community but allowing for that growth and that development and change moving forward.”

Hollie McKinney, mayor of Fairfield, said she also wants to preserve the town’s rural, small-town feel while accommodating growth.

“I think that probably anybody here in this room would come to Fairfield and say … ‘Yeah, I would love to live here.’ And then we need to have jobs that can support that lifestyle,” she said. “So if my 150 residents could find a job in town, that would be awesome; if we didn’t have to leave (town), I think everybody would really appreciate that.”

The project area would encompass two distinct zones in Fairfield and Cedar Fort.

Both towns passed resolutions supporting the plan late last year.

As the Daily Herald reported in February, Eagle Mountain was also weighing its options regarding joining the project.

The Utah Inland Port Authority said it will work closely with Cedar Fort, Fairfield, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and other state partners to attract industries aligned with local values, including light manufacturing, agriculture, technology and renewable energy, a press release stated.

“This project honors the legacy of rural Utah while building the foundation for a more connected, competitive future,” said Ben Hart, executive director of the Utah Inland Port Authority. “By investing in infrastructure and strategic development, we’re creating new opportunities while preserving what makes these communities special.”

However, several people who spoke in opposition of the project cited water resource issues and potential impacts on wildlife corridors.

Heather Dove, who spoke during a public comment period but did not state her town of residency, said the areas west of Utah Lake are already grappling with tremendous growth. She believes that local roads are overburdened with traffic, and the area can’t sustain the scale of industrial and residential development that’s being planned with this port.

“Cedar Fort and Fairfield city leaders are rushing into this project without fully understanding what they’re giving up, which is the peace and quiet and the natural beauty of the desert landscapes and the wildlife they support in this region,” Dove said.

She also noted potential threats to wetlands, but an inventory map outlining the portions of the towns to be included in the Inland Port Authority’s proposal would not overlap with any wetlands.

Others spoke to the risks of fast-tracking industrial development.

“By creating additional port areas, you are creating competition for yourselves against the businesses that you’re trying to bring in,” Terry Durfey said in her public comment.

The Inland Port Authority says the project area includes environmental protections, historical preservation measures and air quality considerations.

As for water rights, both towns would be able to secure funding to improve their water systems as part of their partnership with the Inland Port Authority. And in regard to environmental concerns, the plan states there are no wildlife or waterfowl management areas located within the project area.

“This partnership ensures we grow on our terms — bringing in the kinds of businesses that fit our vision and serve our residents,” McKinney said.

A full look at the recently approved plan can be found at inlandportauthority.utah.gov/pony-express.