November 17, 2025 MIDA Board Meeting Highlights

This is an unofficial summary of the Board Meeting produced by MIDA Communications staff.  Minutes will be posted to the Utah Public Notice Website, pmn.utah.gov, once they are approved.

Board members present: Chair Stuart Adams, Vice Chair Jerry Stevenson, Karl McMillan (virtual), Mark Shepherd, Gary Harter, Gage Froerer, Mike Ostermiller; and Jefferson Moss (non-voting member.)

BOARD ACTION

• Unanimous approval of meeting minutes from the Aug. 14, 2025 MIDA board meeting.

• Unanimous approval of Resolution 2025-17 Thanking Ryan Starks for his service and appointing Jefferson Moss as a Non-Voting Member of the MIDA Board.

MIDA Executive Director Paul Morris presenting Resolution 2025-17, thanking Ryan Starks for his service and appointing Jefferson Moss as the non-voting member of MIDA's Board.

• Unanimous Approval of Resolution 2025-18 Approving a distribution to the Falcon Hill Project Area’s local government partners.

  • Davis County, Weber County, Clearfield City, Riverdale City, Roy City, and Sunset City have each provided key coordination and support to the Falcon Hill Project Area since its inception in 2008, helping promote the military, MIDA’s mission, and the economic development and mission success of Hill Air Force Base, the Falcon Hill Project Area, and the State of Utah;

  • MIDA’s Falcon Hill Project Area Plan provides, in part, that among the Falcon Hill Project Area’s goals is “the coordination of the provision of municipal services such as fire protection and police services; providing a uniform development process; the construction and maintenance of public infrastructure that crosses the localities’ boundary lines; and, the orderly collection and disbursement of fees and certain taxes or other revenue. MIDA was created to ensure that developments, such as Falcon Hill, are seamlessly supported and serviced without regards to boundary lines. Through the Communities’ cooperation and arrangements, MIDA fulfills these responsibilities thereby promoting public peace, health, safety, and welfare”;

  • MIDA’s Falcon Hill Project Area Plan further provides, in part, that among the purposes and intent of MIDA with respect to the project area is to “when available, use other funding sources to enhance the Development Project, pay the Communities for services provided, and disperse those funds not needed for these purposes to the Communities according to the MIDA Act”;

  • The MIDA Act provides that MIDA may use municipal services revenue to pay for municipal services within the project area from which the revenue was collected, and shall distribute any remaining municipal services revenue equally among all counties and municipalities that levy a property tax on property within a project area;

  • For fiscal year 2025-26, MIDA shall provide a distribution of excess municipal services revenue in the amount of $50,000 to Davis County, Weber County, and the municipalities of Clearfield City, Riverdale City, Roy City, and Sunset City;

  • MIDA will conduct a similar revenue calculation in future fiscal years and will distribute funds subject to the availability of excess revenue and the authorization.

  • Board discussion highlighted the 4,000 jobs within the very successful enhanced use lease/project area and that it is only 20% built out.

• Unanimous Approval of Resolution 2025-19 Approving a grant agreement with Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah.

  • The Foundation provides financial and operational support for the Hill Aerospace Museum which sees 400,000 visitors annually. The grant funding not to exceed $300,000 for the purpose of funding maintenance and improvement of the Museum and its operations and improve the Museum by expanding educational opportunities available to Museum visitors, preserving the Museum’s historical military and aviation exhibits and collections, and driving economic growth and revenue within Falcon Hill project area and its adjacent communities, will be payable in three annual disbursements of $100,000.

• Unanimous Approval of Resolution 2025-20 Approving the Deer Crest Village Master Development Plan in the Military Recreation Facility Project Area, subject to further review of the construction timeline of 450 parking spaces by the MRF Development Review Committee.

• Unanimous Approval of Resolution 2025-21 Authorizing the Execution of Interlocal Capital Pledge Agreements and Other Documents Required in Connection Therewith; Acknowledging the Issuance and Sale of the Bonds by the MIDA Mountain Village Public Infrastructure District; and Authorizing the Taking of all Other Actions Necessary to the Consummation of the Transactions Contemplated by this Resolution.

• Unanimous Approval of Resolution 2025-22: Adopting the Military Recreation Facility Project Area Plan Part 10 and Directing the Publication of Notice of its Approval in a Newspaper of General Circulation as Provided by Law.

PROJECT AREA UPDATES

UTAH NATIONAL GUARD PROJECT AREA

MIDA Deputy Director Ariana Farber: Demolition began Nov. 14; on time/under budget; anticipated completion late Jan. 2026 of a new parking facility at the Beaver National Guard Armory.

MILITARY RECREATION FACILITY PROJECT AREA

Kurt Krieg from Extell provided the following update:

• Grand Hyatt Deer Valley is well positioned for the 25/26 ski season with more reservations on the books in Q1 than all of the inaugural year. Spring and summer conference business is robust as word of this mountain destination gains momentum. Nate Hardesty, general manager, has worked closely with his culinary team to enhance their offerings as well as establish several holiday culinary events.

• Military bookings are increasing as members take advantage of the great partnership. The hotel recently procured a hotel dog named Jorde, short for Jordanelle.

• Construction of Deer Valley’s East Village Lodge (Village Skier Services) is underway and expected to be near completion September of 2026; Deer Valley Resort will have a temporary skier services open this winter.

• Four Seasons Resort and Private Residences Deer Valley: Sales progress with 53 residents contracted and bound, over 40%. Financing is complete on the 134-room hotel inclusive of 123 private residences: 55 within hotel tower (Tower B) and 68 within private residences tower (Tower C). Full building permit(s) review nearly complete and construction progressing.

• REEF Capital: Marcella Estate Lots: All of the 144 estate lots have been sold. EX Utah Contracting is underway with completion of the final development pod, McHenry. Twenty-two estate homes are under construction. The first estate home, 1851 W. Galena Ridge Way, closed on 10-31-25 for $18.4 million. REEF’s club amenity, the Marcella Lodge, has its structural concrete nearing completion with steel erection scheduled for end of November. Marcella Landing: Vertical construction (framing and steel) is underway with the first unit’s steel topping off.
  Sales have been encouraging with 18 of the 50 townhomes sold across Phases 1, 2, and 4, and the last two residences contracted at $11 million and $11.8 million.

• Reef’s development, Cormont, a collection of 372 condominiums across five buildings, is underway.

• Canopy by Hilton at Deer Valley: Construction is progressing on this 180-key hotel across from Pioche Residences and adjacent to Deer Valley’s existing Jordanelle Express Gondola building. Anticipated opening is summer 2026.

• Lot 5 – Future Five-Star Hotel and Residences: Construction financing is underway and the brand agreement with a 5-star hotel brand is nearing final terms. While the private residences are not expected to be marketed until next winter, construction is underway. Lot 5 includes 132 hotel rooms, and 105 condos: 56 within hotel tower and 49 within private residences tower.

• Velvaere: Preparing for the winter, and sales are ramping up.

• Lot 13: Dart Interests LLC acquired Lot 13 from Extell in late October. Dart intends to erect an Evermore Resort on the over 13-acre parcel. The parcel has direct ski connectivity into Deer Valley via Lift 11 which will open the 25/26 ski season.

• Deer Valley Resort Operations: Deer Valley Resort has been busy with lift installation, snowmaking, pumphouses, Park Peak day-lodge and Hail Peak ski facility. Deer Valley, with Extell installing all the mountain improvements’ infrastructure backbone and clearing/grading, is on track to deliver the largest ski resort expansion in the industry’s history.
  With the recent weather and ongoing construction, Deer Valley anticipates opening the new terrain and lifts the fourth week of December (week of Dec 22;)
  • They are planning a grand opening of the expanded terrain with over 3,700 skiable acres encompassing 100 new runs and 10 new lifts, including a 2-stage gondola (East Village Express;)
  • Over 897 snowmaking guns and 80 miles of snowmaking pipeline has been installed. Three new pump houses and a 10-million-gallon snowmaking pond are under construction;
  • When complete, Deer Valley will feature over 5,700 skiable acres, 37 chairlifts, 238 runs, and a seamless experience from Deer Valley East Village to the summit.

• Village Retail and Marina West: Extell continues to work with Murray Twohig, Graffito SP, Extell Hospitality, and REEF on the Village core’s commercial: retail and food & beverage. EXU continues with programming and site plan development of Marina West with Kohn Pedersen Fox (“KPF”). Marina West is a strategic land holding (70 acres) intended to provide essential workforce housing, community recreation, employee parking, and regional commercial opportunities supporting the adjacent Deer Valley East Village.
  Deer Valley East Village will house nearly 180,000 square feet of commercial, of which roughly 120,000 square feet are in the ground floors of Cormont.
  • Extell completed the 319-connector road and donated land to MIDA for public building.
  • Extell is designing and developing 660 to 870 residences, translating to approximately 1,800 to 2,400 beds on Marina West.
  • Marina West’s master plan is being enriched to include regional commercial; local attractions, including a fitness center, movie theater, aquatics center, brewery restaurant, national outdoor retailers, and other essential local businesses.

• Krieg also reported on environmental remediation status, wildfire mitigation work and civil infrastructure projects.

Jack Johnson from SkyRidge provided the following update:

Ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 31 for SkyRidge Equestrian, offering 32 StableComfort stalls with mountain or lake views, a heated, well-lit full-court indoor dressage arena, a spacious outdoor arena, a 60’ round pen, a 72’ covered European walker, and dedicated equestrian-only trails just north of the barn. It’s designed for comfort, safety and for the education of the horse and the rider. Because SkyRidge Equestrian is located in MIDA’s MRF project area, it will offer programs and discounted rates to service members as well as Salute to Service guests at both SkyRidge Equestrian and the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, including offering 50% off trail rides and lessons.

FALCON HILL PROJECT AREA

Jason Przbyla provided the following update:

Falcon Hill Aerospace Research Park – 550 acres of development – is seeing 1.3 million square feet of completed construction – 100% leased, 114-room hotel, with more construction underway, including the 1800 N Interchange (UDOT.)

• Design of the Air Force Replacement Building (1573) is ongoing, and an expected ground breaking in Q1 2026.

• 1800 N Gate finished 60% of design.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE

Extell and the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley team have been exceptional partners in supporting the Salute to Service program, especially with regard to the dedicated concierge personnel, acknowledging Hallie Alberti; funding considerable marketing; and accumulating discounts.

• A few highlights include:

  • Strong 2025-2026 winter performance already outpacing all of 2025;

  • Military groups bookings are strong: earlier this month, the hotel hosted about 100 guests/30 families with 15 rooms booked for a Blue Star family event. 

  • A June 2026 Hill Air Force Base ‘Stay and Play’ package is being developed.

  • MIDA and the hotel are pursuing joint military and veteran hiring opportunities.

  • As a reminder, the on-property discount opportunities include 30% F&B (excluding alcohol); 20% at the spa; $20 daily valet parking; and daily ski tickets at Deer Valley Resort up to 75% off the window rate, as well as 20% Ski Butler rentals.

  • The marketing and PR support has been fantastic. Recently, Utah Business did a very high-profile piece; and the organic marketing support from the military has been fantastic. The hotel and MIDA will be doing a podcast with a Utah-based group, and the hotel will be hosting in January one of the military’s greatest social media influencers, Bryson Saunders, who regularly promotes a variety of military discounts, including the Salute to Service program at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley.

  • Concluded with a guest testimonial conveyed by the NorthStar concierge: “This has to be one of my top stays in the US. Beautiful hotel, responsive staff, and plenty of amenities. I strongly advise coming here for families. The staff were SO good to my toddler daughter! There was plenty to keep us occupied. Of note, lots of discounts and freebies for military and veterans.”

• Mountain Veterans Project Area: Development team very close to identifying an executive director for the non-profit Mountain Veterans Program.