1 reply to this topic

[ski9600]

More fracas about Wolf Creek Village




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get News Feeds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BY ALLEN BEST
special to the summit daily
April 2, 2006

Comments (0) Print Email

WOLF CREEK PASS - The fracas over the intentions of Red McCombs, the billionaire co-founder of Clear Channel Communications, to develop a huge resort complex at Wolf Creek Pass continues. At the heart of the issue is whether the Texas-based McCombs has improperly influenced the federal government to give him access across Forest Service land.

"The whole thing from beginning to end smells to high heaven," Rep. Mark Larson, a Republican from Cortez, told the Durango Herald. Larson wanted the Colorado Legislature to pass a resolution condemning the plans for Village at Wolf Creek. However, legislators refused, but instead sent the resolution to the House Agriculture Committee for consideration. A legislator who represents the area most directly involved in the dispute sits on that committee.

That area, Mineral County, approved plans for 2,100 housing units and 4,500 parking spaces in what is now forest-covered land next to the ski area. Almost alone among Colorado ski areas, Wolf Creek has no overnight lodges.

The case is bipartisan in that Larson is a Republican, but critics contend that McCombs, the developer, used cash donations to key Republican lawmakers from Texas to gain influence in Congress and in the Bush administration. The legislator from Mineral County who objected to the resolution, Rafael Gallegos, is a Democrat.

Two lawsuits are already pending on the project, and Jeff Berman of Colorado Wild, a watchdog group of national forests, predicts that a third lawsuit is likely. He told the Herald he expects the Forest Service will approve the 250-easement across the national forest. In turn, Colorado Wild will allege the environmental impact statement was improperly created.

[ski9600]

ski9600, on Apr 3 2006, 08:20 AM, said:

More fracas about Wolf Creek Village

Controversial Colorado ski development clears key hurdle




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get News Feeds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
April 3, 2006

Comments (0) Print Email

DENVER — A hotly contested proposal for a major development near one of Colorado’s most rustic ski areas cleared a key hurdle Monday when federal officials approved construction of two short roads through the Rio Grande National Forest to reach the area.

The Village at Wolf Creek, proposed by Texas billionaire Billy Joe “Red” McCombs, would include businesses and housing for up to 10,500 people.

Opponents fear the development will hurt the environment and overtax schools and other services in tiny Mineral County, home to fewer than 1,000 full-time residents in the San Juan Mountains about 170 miles southwest of Denver.

Supporters say the development would bring much-needed jobs and revenue for local governments in an economically depressed part of the state.

Forest Supervisor Peter Clark said Monday the roads would allow access to privately owned site while providing for public safety and protecting resources. The decision also said the roads would be compatible with the ski area.

The roads would connect the development to U.S. 160. One would be 750 feet long and the other 250 feet long, with the shorter one used during the ski season.

Clark also approved a corridor for utilities to the site.

A 45-day appeal period for the decision will begin soon.