On Tuesday, it will be voter vs. voter as Cedar Hills residents go to the polls to decide whether this growing northern Utah County city should prohibit alcohol sales and Sunday business openings.

"It's sad that it has divided people," says Charelle Bowman, who opposes the proposed bans. "People of all faiths have been affected by this. People wanted to say it's Mormons against other faiths, but it's not. It's Mormons against Mormons."

Even though most Cedar Hills residents are LDS - and their church preaches against drinking alcohol and shopping on Sunday - not all Mormons support the ballot measures. That seeming paradox has prompted some ban-backing LDS members to question the devoutness of ban-opposing members.

"Honestly, it's really tough," says Eric Richardson, who is helping lead the fight against the proposed bans. "I'm receiving phone calls and e-mails from people saying I should go find another church."

The feud started in March, when the City Council refused to prohibit alcohol sales and Sunday shopping within Cedar Hills.

That vote gave birth to the Coalition to Preserve Cedar Hills, which circulated petitions and eventually persuaded city leaders to put the initiatives on the ballot.

Coalition members argue the twin bans would help preserve community standards. They say they don't want their children to have to work Sundays, and they worry about drunken driving and alcohol being sold near schools.

Another grass-roots group, the Concerned Citizens of Cedar Hills, formed in response. These residents worry that banning alcohol sales and Sunday shopping would scare off prospective retailers in this growing but store-less community.

Both sides feel that Cedar Hills needs retailers and the convenience and sales taxes they would bring.

One of the Concerned Citizens' signs reads: "Got Milk? We don't, but we'd like some!"

Smith's Food & Drug dropped plans to locate in the city amid the controversy.

Coalition members maintain Kohler's and Harvest Fresh Natural Foods are ready to come in and honor their community standards.

But representatives from both companies said last week that Tuesday's vote will not determine whether they build in Cedar Hills.

And the developer of the commercial site, Mark Hampton, who agreed to split the cost of a feasibility study with Kohler's, says he has decided to wait until after the election to go forward with the research.

"We don't want to fuel a political hot issue," he said.

That issue is heating up even more in the final days before Tuesday's vote. Residents have packed town hall meetings and fliers and lawn signs have sprung up all over.

"The issues have been quite clear with one side saying one thing, and the other almost the exact opposite," says Ken Cromar, a coalition supporter. "The greatest cause of contention has been, and always will be, the truth. The citizens will decide where the truth is with Tuesday's vote."

Some residents have managed to stay out of the fray.

"People aren't really making a big deal about it in my neighborhood," says Thomas Allred, a ban supporter. "The loudmouths, they're the ones that voice their opinions. That is why our country is run by the minority. The majority really don't speak out."

Leaders from both sides have promised to accept Tuesday's vote no matter the turnout and no matter the outcome.

But it remains to be seen whether the losers will press for a revote.

"With this issue resolved once and for all," Cromar says, "we can get back to building our very bright future."

Even so, Mayor Mike McGee acknowledges some residents might not be able to heal wounded relationships and friendships.

"Most of the people can," he says. "But there are some that won't be able to."

thollingshead@sltrib.com

Tuesday's vote

l Where: All precincts vote at Cedar Ridge Elementary School, 4501 W. Cedar Hills Drive.

l When: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

l Questions: Call the Cedar Hills city office at 785-9668