History of Erda Community Association

Let's take a trip back in time

The Erda Community Association (Erda CA) was organized in 2018 during the early phases of the incorporation process. Maintaining Erda’s rural atmosphere and charm has long been a desire and a goal of the association members and many other residents. The sponsors involved in incorporation felt that it would be beneficial to formerly organize in order to distribute information from a centralized source and to raise funds to address land-use issues threatening our rural lifestyle. Residents in Erda have come here to have a little land where they can have animals, where they can raise their families teaching them to raise gardens and care for animals while enjoying the rural way of life.

Also, during the fall of 2018, the Tooele County Commissioners approved 5 rezoning requests along with approval of a Planned Unit Development (PUD). These would allow higher and high-density developments that would fundamentally change Erda from our rural atmosphere to a Stansbury Park, Daybreak style urban development. Erda is currently zoned for 5 acre (RR-5) lots on the east side of SR 36, some 5 acre, and 1 acre (RR-1) parcels on the west side of SR 36. All of these developments would significantly increase the number of homes on each parcel with some including apartments and town homes.

The only option the residents of Erda had was to obtain signatures on referendums for these rezone actions. A meeting was held where county residents came together to help circulate the referendums and obtain signatures. There were approximately 30 people gathering signatures. Most of them purchased their own supplies to make signs and many of them contributed money to Erda CA to help in purchasing additional supplies and to pay for printing and binding of referendum signature books. There were hundreds of hours and dollars donated by signature gatherers.

The result of the efforts are as follows: 1) the Shoshone and Adobe Rock Ranch developments were on the ballot in the 2020 election and were soundly voted down by Tooele County citizens, 2) the referendums known as Erda Brothers Three were not processed by the County Recorder since the developer requested that the rezone ordinances be rescinded. A commission meeting was held on the afternoon of December 29, 2018 to facilitate the developer’s request, and 3) the referendum for the PUD known as Skywalk was disapproved by the County Recorder since the County Commissioners action was considered administrative and was not subject to a referendum. More information about some of these actions can be found on this website in a narrative called Litigation Actions Supported by Erda CA.

Since 2018, two additional referendums have been accomplished because several development actions have been approved by the Tooele County Commission to include the Erda Brothers Three parcels. Again, people stepped up to gather signatures and contribute money. Appeals and litigation have been required to fight these developments. Officers and board members of the Erda CA have continued to contribute many hours and money to facilitate this litigation. We have had significant amounts donated by a community member or two, and a total of about $70,000 has been needed and used to fight development and annexation of property within the Erda City boundaries. Again, you can find detailed information in the narrative mentioned above.

summary of the number of units proposed by the various attempts to develop parcels of land in Erda and Adobe Rock Ranch in Lakepoint:

Parcel

Adobe Rock Ranch
Sunset Acres
Teably Village
Erda Acres
Shoshone
Skywalk
Suburban Land Reserve

Total

Number of Units

4,710
112
105
227
174
984
446

6,758

Estimated Number of Vehicles

9,420
224
220
456
348
1,968
892

13,528

Fortunately, the incorporation of Erda continued through the process and was ultimately voted on favorably by Erda citizens in the 2020 election. There were costs associated with incorporation and they were funded by Erda CA. Erda City Council members will be elected in 2021, and the City of Erda will be formally established in January of 2022.

Anyone can become a member of Erda CA. If you would like to join, please find the membership form on this website. Membership and doners are private information and will never be disclosed. Erda CA needs your help and contributions in order to continue to challenge land use actions that threaten our rural way of life. If you would like to contribute, please do so through your membership application or visit the contribution tab on the Erda CA website. We are almost to the finish line. We can do this! We sincerely appreciate your help and support.