The Morgan County Council has approved Wasatch Peaks Ranch (WPR). WPR is an entirely new, private community for ultra millionaires and billionaires comprised of 750 living units and a private ski and golf resort in the mountains our community vision designated for preservation. This project will have a significant impact on what is one of our most visible, scenic, and iconic mountain features. This development will destroy our pristine mountains and unique view-shed and the very essence of why many of us have chosen to live here.

Unlike many resorts, the damage and impact to our community cannot be justified by the access, recreational opportunities, and resort amenities that will be provided since this will be a private playground intended for only the richest 1%, and the public, including our community, will be locked out. Our Community Vision, General Plan, and Future Land Use Map were developed with significant community outreach and input to reflect the community's development desires. We elect our representatives not to dictate their will upon us but to represent our interests as a community; yet, our Council approved the WPR project even though this project was contrary to these planning documents and the desires of the community as established therein. 

Since the WPR development is contrary to our planning documents and given the magnitude and significant impacts this project will have upon the community, it is important to ensure that the Council's approval of the WPR development is supported by the community. The Utah Constitution provides the people a fundamental referendum right to affirm or reject a legislative decision, and the exercise of this right is the only means to determine if the community supports the abandonment of its vision in favor of the WPR project and to correct the decision if it does not. 

Accordingly, an Application for Referendum was submitted, but the County rejected it for dubious reasons under pressure from WPR. This rejection was appealed to the district court. WPR intervened in the appeal and, using its enormous wealth and legal apparatus has stalled the referendum in litigation for over four years. WPR, in concert with Morgan County, capitalized on the litigation delays to circumvent the referendum by obtaining approvals and constructing its resort while the referendum was pending, even though the enabling ordinance challenged by the referendum was tolled by the Utah Constitution until presented to the voters. With the Court's validation of the Application, now on appeal by WPR, an injunction was ordered to stop further construction until the referendum is resolved; this is also on appeal by WPR. 

WPR has used its wealth to try to litigate the referendum to death through protracted, costly litigation in hopes of bankrupting the referendum effort. WPR even filed a malicious and meritless $10 million lawsuit against the sponsors, which has since been dismissed, in an apparent effort to intimidate the sponsors into withdrawing their referendum appeal and in order to divert resources and energy from the referendum and to their own defense. WPR actions are not just an attack against the sponsors, but an attack against all the citizens of Morgan County and their constitutional right to a referendum. Regardless of WPR's efforts, the referendum is still active and pending action in the Utah Supreme Court. Support for this effort is appreciated.