Paving Paradise: Why one rural town in Utah resisted a development from the state’s predominant faith

After the morning rush, the traffic in Erda, Utah, near the corner of Erda Way and State Road 36 has thinned out considerably. The only passing whoosh is that of a breeze cutting through the silence.

At one end of the intersection, the Motor Vu Drive-in Theater sits empty waiting for the weekend’s coming attractions. Across the street, a few people are inside Virg’s diner, eating their breakfast before another workday begins.

Taking a short trip down Erda Way gives a snapshot of just how rural it is. Heading west, just past Virg’s, a lone meetinghouse for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sits beside a large vacant field. Aside from a private school down the road, the nearest building is a house nearly a mile away. This is all about to change, however, as growth in the area has been steady and the church recently announced its intention to build a temple in this small and quiet town.

On April 7, 2019, church President Russell M. Nelson announced that a new temple would be built in Tooele Valley. In September, Erda was revealed to be the location in which it would reside. The vacant lot next to the meetinghouse on Erda Way, all 167 acres, belongs to the church, which sees the plot as an ideal location for the faith’s “holiest” of houses.

The initial response was overwhelmingly popular, as residents expressed joy over the prospect of having such an installation in their own backyard.

“I was thrilled at the announcement of the Erda Temple— it was great,” said Jera Bailey, of Erda.

Others echoed her statements and, over the coming months, the excitement seemed to mount.

Then, another announcement came.

In September, church leaders gave an update on the status of the temple, including a plan to incorporate a community development on the 167-acre-lot. In this community, 32 acres would be open space for parks and walking trails. The Pioneer Cemetery, which resides within the lot, was set to be preserved as well.

The centerpiece of the development revolved around adding hundreds of homes and a 55-plus adult community. That bothered many people who lived in the neighborhood.

“We’re excited about it out here,” said Kendall Thomas, a member of the Tooele County Commission. But, he said, he knew many people were not.

“This is never going to fly,” Thomas said, “not going to fly with the neighborhood.”

People immediately took to social media to voice their displeasure with the community development. Erda’s Facebook “Neighbors” page blew up with negative, and oftentimes snarky, comments railing against the proposal.

“Boo!”

“Keep Erda rural!”

“This is in no way even acceptable!”

Those were some of the more mild-tempered responses.

Shortly thereafter, things got personal.

People on "Erda Neighbors" began turning their attention from the development to the supporters. From making suggestions that effectively accused others of selling Erda out for high-density housing, to calling people sheep for approving of a plan proposed by their faith leaders, it was apparent that people felt their lifestyle was being threatened.

Shawnya Wayman found herself in the crosshairs of negative comments, spending numerous occasions explaining herself and defending her stance. While she supported the arrival of a temple in Erda, she wasn’t in favor of sacrificing her “rural way of life” at the hands of a large development.

Wayman attributes the public discourse to a lack of empathy. “I sometimes let my emotions get the best of me, but I also tried to understand what people were feeling on both sides.”

For Dan Thurber, the bishop of the Ponderosa Ward in Erda, the incendiary discourse was a disappointment. “Let’s maintain civility,” Thurber said. “Is it possible to separate the temple from the development? Yes.” He added that it was unfortunate to see the debate over the development intertwine “with religious overtones.”

Over the next several months, residents began gathering signatures in an attempt to get a rezoning referendum on the ballot for the 2020 election. Then, in mid-September, representatives of the church announced their withdrawal of plans for the high-density housing.

In a statement, the leaders acknowledged the efforts by Erda residents who were concerned with the proposal and had a “sincere desire on the part of the church to avoid discord in the community.”

Back in the Tooele County Commissioner’s Office, Thomas rests his forehead on his hand and lets out an audible sigh, remembering the first conversation he had with the neighborhood regarding the temple development.

“You guys have got to get together and compromise,” he said. “This is going to be a beautiful addition to the community, but you gotta compromise.”

But no such compromise was struck, leaving the project halted indefinitely.

Both Wayman and Bailey said they would welcome a revised development, given some of the issues were addressed that would be compacted by additional housing. Wayman cites the current traffic congestion on Erda Way as a result of the private school.

The intersection of Erda Way and S.R. 36 is also heavily trafficked and accidents occur frequently. “I don’t want to hear about any more deaths before things are fixed,” Wayman said.

Thomas says church leaders have not reached out to him or his office since they withdrew their plans. “I would hope the temple goes there; it’s a beautiful location,” he said. Given that the church owns a great deal of land in the valley, however, Thomas also noted that it has other options, and could choose another route.

Currently, there have been no announcements on where things stand with respect to the temple, or any new plans for a development in Erda.

Near the corner of Erda Way and State Road 36, everything is quiet.