Posted on 11/11/2009 8:20:42 AM PST by NativeNewYorker
Crested Butte Mountain Resort's five-year effort to push its ski area onto nearby Snodgrass Mountain hit a barrier.
The U.S. Forest Service rejected the resort's master development plan and blocked its application for National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, review, a vital hurdle to expand the ski resort by 276 acres onto undeveloped terrain on neighboring Snodgrass Mountain.
"It was a difficult decision; the Upper Crested Butte Valley is very divided on this issue, with strong opinions on both sides," said Charlie Richmond, supervisor of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, who signed the letter rejecting the expansion.
He said the NEPA process takes up to seven years for studies and public input.
"For us to begin that process, the Forest Service has to be comfortable that it's in the public's interest," Richmond said. "We have to be able to support it and defend it. It essentially becomes our proposal, and I'm not comfortable with that."
In his letter, Richmond noted a divided public, the impact of a surge of skiers on public services and "geologic hazards presented by unstable soils and unpredictable hydrology," at the site.
Snodgrass Mountain is popular with locals who use it to hike, cycle and backcountry ski.
Supporters of the expansion characterized Richmond's decision as arbitrary and void of public comment.
"I am shocked at this decision and feel blindsided," William Buck, the mayor of Mount Crested Butte and president to the Colorado Association of Ski Towns, said in a statement issued by the ski resort. "All indications were that the process was moving forward."
democrats expect things for free.
excellent, this clears the way for 4 condo projects and whole neighborhood of “green” cabins.
— lates
— jrawk
What a welfare queen, cannot run a town with out basing it on property stolen off of the tax payers.
Crested Butte is a liberal haven. Skiing is great, but stay out of the town unless you find ‘hippie’ attractive.
Crested’s zip code donated 3:1 for the Democrats.
The tax payers own way too much property. I’m not saying we should just give it to Crested Butte, just that the FedGov owns WAY too much land.
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