CEDAR HILLS — A group calling itself the Coalition to Preserve Cedar Hills announced Tuesday plans to circulate a petition to prevent the sale of alcohol and Sunday business operations in the 7,500-resident bedroom community.

Resident Gary Duncan announced the group's intentions to file a petition with the city recorder this morning soliciting support for ordinances that were voted down by the City Council in early March.

"We expect that we will gain a significant number of signatures and then present those back to the council," said Duncan.

The group hopes that the council will pass ordinances banning booze and Sunday sales in the city. If that doesn't happen, then it wants residents to be able to vote on the issue.

Coalition member Paul Shumway said the group was not just a vocal minority.

"It's quite a large group, and I assure you that we are not fanatics," Shumway said. "We are regular citizens with families and jobs."

Shumway said he thought the City Council failed to truly assess the community's wishes when it voted down the ordinances.

"I wish you would take more time to go and find out how the people of Cedar Hills feel about this issue," he said. "Almost everyone that I speak to . . . are in favor of these two ordinances. We are willing to wait or pay higher taxes or do whatever we need to do. If you think that the people in the city would not vote for an ordinance prohibiting alcohol sales, you do not know your city."

Duncan said that City Council members Rob Fotheringham and James Parker are part of the coalition, as well as 50 other community members. Duncan said the coalition attempted to make its position known as the council debated the ordinance but was stifled.

"We were here during the time it was being considered, speaking out, and speaking in front of the council members," he said. "But the council has been suppressing the other side of the story."

Duncan said he is not concerned about the effect of the ordinances on a planned Smith's grocery store in a development near Lone Peak High School.

Smith's parent company, Kroeger, signaled in February that no alcohol sales and mandatory Sunday closure would jeopardize the store's construction.

"If Smith's would like to partner with the community and respect our standards and values and the atmosphere we're trying to preserve here in Cedar Hills, if Smith's wants to abide by that and partner, then that's fine," Duncan said.

Shumway expressed frustration over the planned development's sway on the council.

"The way that you've pushed Smith's on us has been really frustrating," he said. "Please slow down and open your minds to what you are doing. Do the right thing for the citizens of Cedar Hills. Don't let money, Smith's or the developer make the decision for you. We came to Cedar Hills for how it is, and we want to keep it that way."

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