Letter: Development should focus on rural a..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Gov. Gary Herbert and the Legislature continue to preach the gospel of "economic development." But, please, no more along the Wasatch Front. Smog, traffic congestion, crowded schools, deteriorating infrastructure, increased crime and urban sprawl make the Wasatch Front look more like Los Angeles every day.

There already are too many people between Ogden and Provo, and too many people is the problem.

The state pays businesses with tax credits to relocate in Utah. If the businesses are willing to go to Price or Fairview or Delta or anyplace in between, welcome, but please, not in Bountiful or South Jordan or Lehi. The Wasatch Front is overloaded. Just drive through it.

The state economic development effort must focus on the rural areas. The Wasatch Front has been spoiled and overdeveloped, except for the prison site, which business interests are eager to get and sell.

Let's adopt the Oregon slogan of a few years ago: "Come. Visit Utah. But don't stay ... on the Wasatch Front!"

John Dwan

Salt Lake City

Letter: Development should focus on rural areas