This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sharon, Vt. • A Mormon Utah businessman who wants to build a massive, futuristic, utopialike community in central Vermont says he's about to buy 500 more acres for the project, bringing his total to about 1,400 acres.
David Hall's development plans include housing for 20,000 people, offices, gardens, 48 basketball courts and 48 Olympic-size swimming pools.
The communities are modeled after Joseph Smith's 1833 plans for the city of Zion. Smith, founder of the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was born in Sharon, Vt. Hall has said the communities wouldn't be religiously exclusive.
Vermont Public Radio reports (http://bit.ly/1pOIXSi) that Hall would have more than a quarter of the 5,000 acres he says he needs if the purchase is finalized.
Hall says he had to take advantage of the opportunity to buy more land — despite spending more than he had planned this year.