OGDEN, Utah — A legal dispute has erupted over development in Weber County’s Ogden Valley, as a resident and a nonprofit group take the county to court. The plaintiffs, including Ogden Valley resident David Carver and the nonprofit Ogden Valley Smart Growth, are seeking to overturn recent decisions made by county officials regarding the development of the Nordic Valley ski village.
The lawsuit, filed on January 28 in 2nd District Court in Ogden, comes in response to a series of measures approved by Weber County Commissioners related to the proposed ski village. The plaintiffs argue that following the November 2024 vote to incorporate part of Ogden Valley into a new city, control over decisions in that area should be transferred to the future local government, which will take shape in early 2026. They contend that any action regarding zoning regulations and development should be left to the leaders of the newly-formed city, rather than the county, which has been criticized for its governance in the region.
The lawsuit asserts that Weber County’s actions violate constitutional principles, claiming that the county should act as a “caretaker” government until the new city is established, and that the current zoning regulations should remain unchanged.
“The major issue with the lawsuit is Weber County is putting themselves right in the middle of our incorporation by trying to mess with the Nordic Valley ski area,” Carver said. “We want to be the ones to say yea or nay, not have it be done by Weber County.”
At the heart of the dispute is the Nordic Valley development, a multi-phase project that includes plans for condominiums, chalets, hotel rooms, and commercial space at the base of the Nordic Valley ski resort. County commissioners have been working with developers since 2021, and the county approved several key measures related to the project in recent months. These include the creation of three public infrastructure districts that would allow Nordic Valley Venture, the company behind the development, to collect taxes to fund infrastructure improvements. Commissioners also designated the area as a “community reinvestment area,” allowing property tax revenue generated by the development to be used for further infrastructure projects.
Weber County Commissioner Gage Froerer defended the county’s actions, stating that until the new city is formally established, the county remains the appropriate governing body for decisions affecting the area.
“You read state code; it’s pretty clear,” Froerer said. “Until the new city is formed, probably in January 2026, the County Commission is still the legislative body that makes decisions.”
While the plaintiffs assert that the court has the authority to review the land use decisions and regulations made by the county since the incorporation vote, Froerer disagrees with their assessment, noting that the county’s role as the legislative body remains intact during the transition period before the new city is created.
The development in Ogden Valley has sparked strong opinions on both sides. Supporters of the Nordic Valley project, including Weber County’s Economic Development Director Stephanie Russell, argue that the development will promote economic growth and sustainability in the region.
“The Nordic Village project is an excellent example of how tax-increment financing can promote long-term economic and environmental sustainability through strategic development practices,” Russell said in a statement.
However, critics, including Carver and the Ogden Valley Smart Growth group, argue that the county’s continued involvement in the project undermines the voters’ decision to incorporate the valley into a new city.
As the lawsuit progresses, the future of development in the area remains uncertain, with both sides awaiting further legal developments. For now, the county’s role in the Nordic Valley project continues, but the plaintiffs hope to put an end to that influence and ensure the new city leaders have the final say on development in their area.
The case continues to unfold, with a formal response from Weber County expected soon.