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Mormon Land Developer Faces Pushback Over Plans To Build Utopian Community In Vermont

Published January 18, 2018 at 1:40 PM EST
This Tuesday, March 29, 2016 photo shows a farm in Sharon, Vt. The farm was bought by the NewVistas Foundation of Utah, which is planning a large-scale development based on the writings of Mormonism founder Joseph Smith, who was born in Sharon. The foundation bought about 900 acres in four towns near Smith's birthplace and plans to buy more. (Lisa Rathke/AP)
This Tuesday, March 29, 2016 photo shows a farm in Sharon, Vt. The farm was bought by the NewVistas Foundation of Utah, which is planning a large-scale development based on the writings of Mormonism founder Joseph Smith, who was born in Sharon. The foundation bought about 900 acres in four towns near Smith's birthplace and plans to buy more. (Lisa Rathke/AP)

A developer from Utah is facing opposition from residents of four Vermont towns. David Hall has bought up 1,800 acres surrounding their farms and businesses, and says he plans to buy more, to build a utopian, self-sustainable community based on the principles expressed in the 1833 Plat of Zion city blueprint devised by Joseph Smith, founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormon Church.

Here & Now‘s Robin Young speaks with Hall (@davidrichardhal).

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