Salt Lake County Council voted yes on Olympia Hills development: community responds

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The vote wasn’t even close. The Salt Lake County Council voted six to three in favor of the Olympia Hills development. While community members said they weren’t surprised by the vote, they were certainly disappointed.

Teddy Hodges is a member of a local group called Utah for Responsible Growth. The group has worked hard trying to change the Olympia Hills proposal. 

After the vote was taken last night, Hodges said, “I was hoping that the council would actually listen to our valid concerns.” 

The Olympia Hills development proposal has been a controversial topic since it was introduced in 2018. The initial plan is to develop a full-functioning community in Olympia Hills, just west of Herriman in the Oquirrh foothills. 

The current proposal is to build 6,330 units of housing in an effort to solve the Salt Lake Valley housing shortage.

While the developers are promoting a community of fun, family and opportunities to live and work, most of the people who live out there don’t see it that way (Olympia Hills Project).  

In fact, the current residents are anticipating issues with space, water, transportation and the fact that there’s currently no infrastructure to accommodate such a dense population.

During the council meeting, one Herriman resident informed the council members that they were about to “cross a line of no return.” He, along with several other concerned community members, insisted that their pleas were not being heard by their leaders. 

Three council members were on the side of the community and voted “no” against the development. Councilman Steve DeBry said to his fellow council members, “I live out there, my family lives smack-dab in the middle of where we’re talking about. The issues that have been raised here is real; they’re genuine, they’re legitimate.” 

Councilwoman Aimee Windernewton also expressed her disappointment for the outcome of the vote.

“I feel for these people who live in the southwest corner of Utah county,” Windernewton said, “This has got to be a frustrating thing for them to see come to their neighborhoods.” 

Despite the formal vote, Salt Lake County residents are refusing to give up hope. Hodges announced that there will be a public press conference on Wednesday, March 4 at 7 p.m. at the Mountain Ridge high school in Herriman to announce a referendum. 

“We are Herriman,” Hodges said, “and we will rise up. You will hear the voice of the people.”


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