Developer Ferrin said, "We've always told the Park City people the same thing: If you give us the land, we would go to The Canyons to develop it. But they're trying to get us to pay over $10 million for the land, which changes the economics of the whole program."

He adds, "Although we're interested in going there, they haven't proposed anything that's been worth biting on. ... If they come to the table and become more realistic with us, then we'll talk with them."

With a groundbreaking goal of late 2007, however, Ferrin said Red Maple will be the project site unless the city offers a better option.

Elliott at the county said if the developers build on Red Maple, "They would have to do it without our blessing. ... We know how to build resort accommodations, and we just don't think they've given adequate thought to the needs of the Air Force or the needs of Park City."

Elliott adds, "It's a dumb location for a condo facility," far from ski resorts, on the side of a steep hill and merely along the side of the highway. She said tourists want instead to vacation near ski resorts.

"They want to be able to walk out the door, go on the lift and take their families up on the mountain and ski. They don't want to be remote and have to use their cars," she said. "People who come to a destination resort want destination amenities. You don't get destination amenities by being out on the highway. You don't experience the resort flavor."

The Red Maple site also does not yet have water, gas and electricity lines. And the hilly site would have to be excavated for a hotel and parking garage. Those add up to hefty start-up costs, according to business models Park City has created for both site plans.

The size of a parking structure and the number of stories the hotel would need is still being studied, Ferrin said. Meanwhile, Erickson said that no matter the size, the visual impact will be great at Red Maple as a gateway to open space.

"It would be a main focus as you come around the corner because there's nothing on either side of it," she said.

However, Ferrin notes that local officials have approved a lot of new development near Red Maple already. That includes the city's recreation complex and the National Ability Center about a half-mile away to the east.

In addition, the Park City Council approved just last month for a training facility for the United States Ski & Snowboard Association, an Intermountain Healthcare hospital, a 15-acre expansion of the recreation complex and a 5-acre affordable-housing site to be built at Quinns Junction — not far from Red Maple.

Steve Petersen, an aide to Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah (who was asked by Park City to help monitor and mediate negotiations), said some creativity may be required, likely on the part of Summit County, to resolve matters.