The owners of land needed for a controversial freeway connector in Pleasant Grove have filed for a "divorce" from the city.

City officials say they will not honor the request because the paperwork was not properly filed.

A new $5 million five-lane road has been designed to loop commuter traffic from State Street in Lindon to the Pleasant Grove I-15 interchange. The road would then continue on to American Fork.

Seven siblings of the Smith family own the majority of 107 acres between Sam White Lane and State Street through which the road must go in order to be finished. Several years ago Pleasant Grove offered to give the family credit toward future development impact fees in exchange for the right of way, about six acres. The family has consistently refused the offer, saying the land is for sale for cash only.

In 2003 the family asked for $150,000 an acre. Today the family says the land is appraising for nearly double that, meaning the city would need to pay almost $1 million more than three years ago.

The family recently filed a "Request for Disconnection" with the city, saying the city "has not dealt in good faith" and has failed to develop the road, meaning the family has not been able to develop their surrounding land.

The family would like the land to be annexed by American Fork, according to the request, which was filed by Stan Smith representing 70 acres owned by himself, his children and his brothers and sisters. No request for annexation has been filed with American Fork because it would be premature to do so until Pleasant Grove has made a decision on the matter, Smith said.

Pleasant Grove Mayor Mike Daniels said Thursday that the city attorney has been directed to deny the request because it was not properly filed. Smith said no formal notice has been given to his attorney. If a proper petition is filed, the City Council would have to vote on the matter.

"We'll file again if we have to," Smith said. "We're not playing around."

The land was annexed by Pleasant Grove 20 years ago, Smith said, and in that time Pleasant Grove has failed to develop the road.

"Failure to communicate has led to disconnect," Smith said. "It's just like marriage -- if you don't communicate there is separation or divorce. This is called divorce I guess."

American Fork would be able to turn the land into a thriving commercial district similar to The Meadows where Costco, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Kohl's and Home Depot have opened in recent years, Smith said.

Sections of the road on either side of the 107-acre parcel are now under construction. Pleasant Grove was able to purchase a right of way through those lands for impact fee credits of $87,000 an acre, Daniels said.

The section that goes through the Smith's property can wait, Daniels said.

"It won't be a problem," he said of a potential delay in completing the road. "Within the next few years, as the city builds up its coffers, I'm sure a new deal can be struck. We're always willing to negotiate."

The road needs to be completed because it would be used to divert traffic during I-15 reconstruction, said County Commissioner Steve White. White said he plans next year to ask the Legislature to earmark state money to help get the road completed.

Darrell Cook of Mountainland Association of Governments said Mountainland would like to have the road eventually designated as a state road, meaning Pleasant Grove would no longer be in charge of finishing it if it were not finished, or maintaining it. If a quarter-cent sales tax increase for transportation is approved by Utah County voters this fall, this road in Pleasant Grove may be considered for part of that money.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.