Overview of the West Hills
Development Proposal
The West Hills proposal seeks to incorporate a new town between Kamas and Hideout, covering approximately 3,600 acres in Summit County, Utah. Supporters argue that incorporation would give residents local control over land-use decisions, potentially preventing unchecked development. However, these claims are exaggerated at best. The proposal gives undue influence to the developer and a very small minority of Kamas Valley residents who are within the proposed boundary the power to vote on and decide on development. That is not reflective of community-based local control of land-use decisions, and ignores the existing population's desires and expectations to exercise their own property rights. The project envisions significant growth, which would likely bring substantial negative impact to the area’s rural population, environment, and landscape.