Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
HURRICANE — Watching the promotional video for The Cove, you can see how beautiful its surroundings are.
Being so close to Zion National Park and Sand Hollow State Park is part of what makes Hurricane in Washington County so attractive. But it’s that same peaceful beauty many are now fighting to protect.
“It would certainly destroy the small community atmosphere that we have here,” said John Beck outside the Hurricane Planning Commission meeting Thursday night.
Beck, who moved to Utah from California last year to get away from the large city life, was one of about 300 residents who filled the room during the Hurricane Planning Commission meeting. Many of them are against the development.
“Why on earth would we do that,” asked one man during the public comment portion of the meeting.
The Cove is planned as an Old-West style town featuring about 600 homes, restaurants, gardens and shops. It will also feature a facility for dinner shows and a town square for entertainment.
“We want people to actually feel like they are in the Old West and experience that, said Jim Thomas, who is the developer behind the project.
Thomas said he understands the concerns residents have; however, he also feels as the area grows, more people need places to live and things to do.
“We’re not here to be getting in anybody’s face,” Thomas said. “We think we can do this environmentally sensitive to those who are around us and be good neighbors to those who are around us.”
Many of those neighbors, though, say they are worried about an increase of noise and traffic. They also fear they will lose something you can’t replace.
“Because of the atmosphere and the quality of life that we have here, we don’t want to move,” Beck said.
