Utah developer quits Vermont plans inspired by Mormon leader

Architectural engineer Ben Jensen displays plans for modular residential structure Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in Provo, Utah. David Hall, a wealthy Mormon businessman has an ambitious plan to buy a Provo neighborhood and create a community of tiny, environmentally sustainable dwellings based on the teachings of church founder Joseph Smith. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A Utah businessman is abandoning plans for a massive development in four rural Vermont towns based on the papers of Mormon founder Joseph Smith after fierce opposition to the project.

David Hall’s family foundation NewVistas had been buying land near Smith’s birthplace in Sharon, Vermont, for what he described as an economically, ecologically and socially sustainable development with housing for 20,000 people many years in the future.

David Hall walks pass a kitchen for a new type of modular residential structure Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, at a warehouse in Provo, Utah. Hall, a wealthy Mormon businessman has an ambitious plan to create communities in Utah and Vermont of tiny, environmentally sustainable dwellings based on the teachings of church founder Joseph Smith. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

A local group was formed to fight the plans. The towns and the legislature also voted against the project, which didn’t dissuade Hall at the time.

On Tuesday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced it had put the towns — Royalton, Sharon, Strafford and Tunbridge — on “watch status” because of the proposal.

That was a “genius move” by the groups opposing the project, Hall said Wednesday. “I’m just kind of tired of the drama and worn out. … I’m a smart enough businessman to realize when I’m beat.”

Hall had expected locals to be opposed the plans at first but hoped they would grow more accustomed to the idea as other projects are built. Many residents in the rural, mountainous region with a total population of about 6,600 believed such a large-scale development would change the character of their small communities, tax resources and limit access to recreational areas and mountain views. The Mormon church had also denounced his plans in Vermont and for another community in Utah.

Andrew Priddis, left, stands in front of kitchen for a new type of modular residential structure Friday, Aug. 19,2016, in Provo, Utah. David Hall, a wealthy Mormon businessman has an ambitious plan to buy a Provo neighborhood and create a community of tiny, environmentally sustainable dwellings based on the teachings of church founder Joseph Smith. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Hall said he is focused on doing test buildings and test villages in an industrial park in Provo, Utah. “An actual community is way off still,” he said.

In Vermont, he wants to sell the 1,500 acres he’s purchased in the four towns. “Hopefully I can find an investment group that will take it on and adopt the local plan instead of my dream,” he said.

Michael Sacca, head of the group formed to fight the project, the nonprofit Alliance for Vermont Communities, said he’s very pleased with the outcome.

“This has been an amazing amount of effort by a lot of people,” he said.

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