Vermonters also care about the environmental, social and fiscal consequences of major development projects in the state.

http://dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/permit-handbook/sheet...

I imagine most resistance to this scheme is based in pragmatism. What's being discussed is essentially a paternalistic, religious company town. There is no way that a development of this size will be in any way self-sustaining; it will have significant impacts on the local infrastructure, culture and environment.