NORTH SALT LAKE — After years of planning and behind-the-scenes work, North Salt Lake’s old gravel pit is about to take its first concrete step toward becoming Eaglewood Village. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Eaglewood Village is scheduled for Dec. 5 at 1:30 p.m. on the Eaglewood Village site, located just south of the Eagleridge roundabout in the former gravel pit area. Anyone interested is welcome to attend. “I’ve lived in this city for more than 30 years, and I’ve always wanted to see that entry area cleaned up,” said North Salt Lake Mayor Shanna Schaefermeyer. “I think this is one of the best things that could happen to North Salt Lake.”

The development is intended to be fully mixed-use, combining 570 living units with restaurants, retail, and office spaces, much like the Riverwood project down in Provo.

Threading through it all will be the completed Beck Street Trail, which when completed will allow local commuters to bike to the middle of downtown Salt Lake City. The trail would also be available for more recreational walking and biking.

“This is really exciting, North Salt Lake doesn’t have a strong retail area or any sit-down restaurants yet, and the employers that move into the office spaces will provide jobs for residents,” said Schaefermeyer. “There’s a lot of work still left to do, but the development is well designed and thought out.”

Some of that design has been an ongoing process. City officials and others expressed several concerns during the development’s early planning stages, including traffic congestion and the instability of the ground at the former gravel pit. Some of these concerns have led to the long delays faced by the project, beginning with the conceptual site plan approval during the summer of 2006.

Compass Development has been working with the city to address these issues, including adding an extra turn lane on Highway 89 to help deal with the current and potential congestion.

Other concerns will continue to be dealt with throughout construction, including possible ground stability and drainage issues.

“We still have some concerns about grading, but that will be addressed as they move along,” said North Salt Lake City Planner Blaine Gehring. “They have as much to lose if this doesn’t go right as we do.”