Vandal strikes as referendum vote heats up over development

PROVIDENCE, Utah — Things took a nasty turn in a referendum vote over a development in Cache Valley after someone turned to vandalism.

People on both sides of that issue said Wednesday night that it was the wrong way to make a point.

No one knows who did the apparent vandalism, but everyone KSL-TV talked with said it’s disappointing.

The debate is over phase two of a development, which would put something very similar to another development in the nearby area close by, and include both single and multi-family homes.

When it comes to your proverbial backyard, your view from your back window, what’s going up can draw a lot of emotions.

But when it’s something like this — signs, torn up and defaced, apparently in opposition of proposition one — people on both sides said they’re not pleased.

“I think it’s terrible,” said Hilary Farnsworth.

“When I was coming home, I just saw that somebody had cut them and so it kind of bothered me,” said Johnnie Rosser, a Providence homeowner.

A public works employee also found campaign signs for an incumbent city council member stuffed in a park toilet.

“It’s really disappointing to hear that something like this went on,” said Providence City Mayor John Dew.

But what’s more important to people in Providence right now is the future of the Vineyard subdivision.

“I can understand, like, not wanting the multi-family, but I really like the way the subdivision is being done,” said Rosser.

Rosser, a realtor, said he sees both sides of the issue, but after seeing phase one of the development, he’s mostly in favor of more housing options out in the area.

“The people living here will go to the same schools my kids go to,” he said. “Traffic’s going to be more, like, I get it.”

But the folks behind say no to proposition one.

“I saw it in the morning, driving my kids to school, and I was worried that people thought we did it,” said Farnsworth, who’s against proposition one.

They said they also don’t support the vandalism and don’t know who did it, but they are concerned for the future of their neighborhoods.

“We’re fine with high density where it’s appropriate in Providence and outside of Providence,” said Farnsworth. “This is not an appropriate place for this many homes.”

They said a change in zoning years ago took homeowners out of the discussion over future development in the area.

The vote brings some of that power back.

“This would literally just provide people an opportunity to go ahead and voice their opinion in terms of how this development should be built out,” said Josh Paulsen, who’s against proposition one.

If proposition one fails, the developer, Visionary Homes, would have to go back to the drawing board with the city council over what goes in.