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Town thwarts plans for Aspen resort — for now

America the beautiful.

I surely don't want to see the entire West "Aspenized." I realize that the American Dream would suggest that a land owner has a perfect right to "get the very most he can out of what he's got." Having said that, how do we keep some places "country." Surely some places need to remain rural. What is beautiful about Utah is that it isn't California or Aspen, Colorado.

Don't let some rich, pride- and wealth-seeking businessman take over more of the beautiful land in the mountains of Utah. Here in one of the big cities in the east I see men like him all the time--out for themselves, not caring one lick about the rights of the land or the people that inhabit it. I am constantly saddened by what men have done to the beauty that once existed in this country and by how little of it remains. Building a ski resort, golf course, shopping centers, hotels, condos, etc. and displacing the wildlife when it is not needed simply makes no sense. By the sound of it, this project seeks to cater to the already fabulously rich as well...this would in no way help the general population.

Nice to see the good guys win... for once.

Seems like Sellers' & his attorney, Steven Clyde, didn't consult with residents much (whose cooperation they desperately need) before deciding to create their own fiefdom for personal gain & wealth. Nice work to Bateman & crew for winning this first battle. I'm all for master planned & sustainable development but, Seller's, go find someplace else to build your kingdom where you don't have to push people around to do it.

"Little Selfish Designs"... hmmm. I think that's better than grand selfish designs.

As a resident of the Heber Valley I am very happy that the Daniels township has decided to vote on annexing these residents. I am happy that the residents have won.

I find it very funny that Sellers calls these residents selfish for wanting to keep the land around them the way they want it, but he is not being selfish for taking away the mountains to make HIS own town so that he "can ride into the sunset on a white horse".

Stopping progress is not going to happen. It sounds like Sellers needs to be more careful as he develops, but there are always two sides to the story. Sellers� development will only bring economic growth to the state of Utah; in the long run that effort will benefit all Utah residents. Complaining and calling Sellers a devil developer for trying to make a buck is short sided and purely judging the situation before all the facts are in. I think there should be a balance between the both individual property rights, but in the end the �free� market will win. I support the development.

I grew up in Heber Valley and I recently visited family there for Thanksgiving. I know many people in the Valley have resented having the Park City resorts so close to them. Now someone wants to put an elitist resort in their working class area for his person gain. I have no doubt it will probably make money but at what cost to the environment and the people living near this monster.

Mike you say you support the development and it will be good for Utah. How? What Kind of Economic Development? If it's like Aspen it will primarily low income part time jobs and the people that hold them won't be able to live there.

There is a joke in Glenwood Springs, Co right now that says the billionaires are moving into Aspen so the millionaires are taking over Glenwood Springs. Are the people moving in bringing jobs? NO!

Plus these people will only live there part of the time and will end up costing tons more in infrastructure cost than they will ever bring in.

I'm not against growth either but the plans, or lack of, that Aspen, ut is based on won't be good for the state. The incorporation will allow the developer to bypass all local oversight and regulations that create the balance that is required for successful development. The law allows the developer to appoint the town mayor and council who will simply serve as yes men. Without some form of oversight nothing will stop developers from building in unstable regions, construction roads that don't meet standards, and building water and sewer lines that will need to be repaired replaced much sooner than normal. When all these things go bad it will be the state of Utah, and EVERYONE of us that will pay to fix the problems, everyone except the developer. The balance between local government and developers interest has always been contentious, and always will be. But bypassing governmental oversight and "controlling you own destiny for 2 years" will only benefit the developers. A benefit that will cost the rest of us for years to come. The problem with Aspen isn't the idea of development, it how the development is going to occur thats the problem.