Timing is everything. The ink on Dakota Pacific Real Estate (DPRE) CEO Marc Stanworth’s Jan. 15 guest editorial wasn’t even dry by the time new information rendered the entire narrative a lie. Entitled “A promising proposal: Moving forward at Kimball Junction,” the commentary is a poorly executed attempt to seek praise for DPRE’s “win” for a project that was opposed by 94% of Summit County residents according to a Dec. 18, 2024 Town Lift survey.Mr. Stanworth writes, “We sincerely believe the result will make this project a true asset to the community for many years to come.” DPRE should know that you cannot consider something nobody wanted as a gift of any kind.Mr. Stanworth lists what he perceives to be key community benefits. Among them a “thriving town center,” ignoring the fact this project, at least as of this writing, is on county land. It is extremely doubtful that any current residents will drive to Kimball Junction to recreate and ignore our existing world class amenities and stunning natural surroundings.Mr. Stanworth also cites the establishment of a senior-care facility that remains undefined and for which no operator has been identified. He also claims the project will offer “civic amenities including a potential new library.” This is needed as the county gave DPRE the land on which the Richins building sits in a land swap deal which includes a library, Department of Motor Vehicles, and facilities used for public meetings including the Summit County Council. The “potential new library” would simply be a replacement for the one that will be bulldozed by DPRE.Mr. Stanworth’s guest editorial ends with a thinly veiled threat. “Efforts to overturn the council’s decision will jeopardize the tremendous work in reaching this point and threaten the realization of much-needed traffic improvements and housing resources. We urge citizens to carefully consider the stakes and take a stand for the community’s future.”Mr. Stanworth is clearly referring to the referendum applied for on Dec. 23, 2024, a mere five days after the county council voted 4-1 to approve DPRE’s request to amend their development agreement. The referendum, which could be voted on by the public pending collection of the required signatures, would negate the council’s vote.In a stunning move that reinforces DPRE’s “take no prisoners” attitude, they have since filed an application to incorporate the 47 acres they own in Kimball Junction into a “preliminary municipality,” essentially a new town. This tactic is possible due to the passage of Utah S.B. 258 that went into effect on May 1, 2024. The application was filed on Jan. 8, which clearly shows the insincerity of Mr. Stanworth’s “can’t we all just get along” tone just a week later. The law gives preliminary municipalities nearly all the powers and duties existing cities and towns have, and it explicitly lets them determine their own zoning. This basically renders the nearly five-year approval process moot. DPRE can build whatever they want without Summit County interference and avoid any ramifications of the referendum, if passed.Speaking on KPCW radio on Jan. 16, Summit County Council member Canice Harte claimed to be shocked by DPRE’s filing. I, in turn, am shocked this action would be surprising to anyone that’s followed the issue. DPRE has repeatedly shown themselves to be manipulative, uncompromising, and disdainful of the residents and representatives of the county.The four council members that voted to approve the project all stated they felt they were under pressure from the Utah Legislature. They feared the Legislature would approve a development less desirable than what was before them if they failed to act.  It now appears that’s exactly what’s going to happen. The ethical thing to do was for the entire council to vote against DPRE and let the state do their worst. At least the blood wouldn’t be on their hands.Vincent A. (Van) NovackPark CityThe post Gift no one wanted appeared first on Park Record.