When asked why the council voted to split the project into four parts last spring, Evans said "the purpose was to allow the project to move forward." Council members have said they felt compelled to pass the rezone out of fear that Hamilton Land would sue the city over a development agreement inked with the city last winter.

Organizers of the referendum, including Rep. David Hogue, R-Riverton, say they are in the process of collecting signatures for four new referendums to address each new project area.

Evans accused Hogue of using this issue as a campaign tactic to get re-elected, something Hogue flatly denied.

"That's an absolute lie," he said. "People of Riverton came to me when they had no other options."

Hogue faces a primary election challenge by George Holling of Herriman.

On Wednesday, the Hamilton family filed a petition to intervene in the supreme court action, saying they feel the city cannot represent their best interests.

According to an affidavit filed in court, Cletus Hamilton stated that Riverton City officials encouraged his family to trade their farm land with the LDS Church and then were told of the new property's "development potential," by city officials.

Hamilton also stated that his family members are lifetime residents with deep roots in Riverton, adding they have donated property for two churches as well as for a school for the handicapped.

The high court could request oral arguments, although no date has been set, and is expected to rule on the matter in the next few weeks.

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E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com