The property at 841 S. State St. in Orem has been very controversial to say the least. Orem is the most densely populated city in Utah County and the fourth-most densely populated city in Utah. Orem is built out, and the infrastructure is bending dangerously under the weight of too many people, too many vehicles and too many safety concerns.

At the Dec. 13 Orem City Council meeting, a new city seal was adopted with the slogan “Family City USA,” but after the meeting there was good reason to adopt the slogan “Apartment City USA.” That is because another high-density apartment complex was approved against the will of the people. There were dozens of dissenting opinions, and not one assenting opinion in the four-hour-long City Council meeting.

Some backroom shenanigans were going on that the mayor alluded to when he admitted that there is more to this story that we citizens don’t know. He mentioned one arm was being held behind his back that forced him to vote in favor of the settlement. We still don’t know what that backroom pressure was.

During the meeting, residents of the area gave their heartfelt reasons for not building the high-density apartment complex. Mothers shed tears over the dangers of present high traffic and how this project would make it much worse. Over 600 people will live in this complex, bringing a parking and traffic gridlock to a community that is already reeling with development encroachments and overpopulation.

As we have seen before, these non-owner-occupied apartments are not the affordable housing they are touted as. They provide a low quality of life for rents from $1,200 to $2,500. You can’t raise a family in one of these crackerjack apartments, and no one has a private place to retreat to.

“Woe unto them that join house to house” until there shall be no room for men and women and children to live the way God intended them to live. And woe to those who let them join house to house until there shall be no room to let children live safely and care free. I think that is what the prophet Isaiah was really trying to say.

This Christmas time of year, many of us will be watching “It’s a Wonderful Life.” As you may recall, in this poignant story, Mr. Potter was only interested in making more money at any cost. He didn’t care about the quality of life for his tenants. The people of Bedford Falls fought Mr. Potter and miraculously prevailed, but the unity of the people was required to do this. We must remember that some decisions we make are not about money or about what is convenient. Sometimes, decisions are about doing what is right, especially for the small and vulnerable people. We must all stand by each other and remember that he who has friends is truly rich.

We all know Orem has been threatened with a big lawsuit if we don’t bend to the scare tactics of big business. I know we have been told that this is a done deal. Have we given up hope for doing what is right for the people of Orem? Have we decided that we are going to let the Mr. Potters of this world steamroll us into submission? No! Too many Mr. Potters have already had their way in our beloved city.

We will all eventually move on to other things in our lives, and we will have just a distant memory of our time here. Will we be remembered for saving a little money and settling with big business? No! We will be remembered for standing up for what is right and at least trying to make our community a place that we can live in dignity.

We must stand in the way of those bulldozers trying to make Orem a 15-minute city. Cities across America are falling for this horribly deceptive scheme. Our denunciation of the State Street Master Plan tells us we understand this scheme to rid our citizens of this blight. We cannot live normal and prosperous lives in a 15-minute city. Don’t let Orem fall the way Vineyard has fallen for this idea of becoming a smart city. Smart for whom? Smart for the Mr. Potters of this world? Smart for big business? Smart for crony capitalism?

The barking dogs threatening lawsuits go away, but once a high-density apartment is built, it is there forever. Forever impinging on the quality of life of its residents. We can deal with a lawsuit and all the threats that go along with it. Please stand in the way of those bulldozers that are trying to remove our quality of life. Please contact Wright Development and appeal to their sense of humanity to not build another high-density apartment in Orem. Email them at info@wrightdevelopment.com or call them at 801-773-7339 and ask that they develop their property with integrity and with the community in mind. Thank you.

Scott P. Swain is the president of Roots of Freedom.

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