Snowbird expansion plans worry Alta officials

Snowbird is planning major future expansion at the popular ski resort, much to the chagrin of neighboring Alta officials.

Currently at 904 rooms, Snowbird's ultimate build-out will hit 3,100 units — tripling it's size.

"Snowbird in a lot of ways is starting to look old and tired," said Bob Bonar, Snowbird's president and chief operating officer. "And we really need to, in order to stay competitive with the competition out there . . . stay vibrant and updated."

Bonar presented an updated master plan to the Salt Lake County planning commission on Tuesday, at the request of commissioners. The last time a master plan for the resort was presented to the county was in 1986. However, the new proposed developments are not immediate and there is not a set expansion timeline.

Future improvements to Snowbird include additional employee housing, an under- ground parking lot and new condo and hotel units. Currently, the resort is expanding the 35-year-old Snowbird Center, which houses the tram, restaurants and shops.

But John Guldner, Alta town administrator, said there are problems for the town of 397 if Snowbird expands. Alta and a competing ski resort by the same name sit two miles above Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

"We do have some grave concerns about any of the large-scale potential devel- opments," he said. "We support Snowbird, but you can't look away from the traffic, the parking and the existing sewer lines. If you forget those things, we're chocked off."

Snowbird and Alta share the same sewer line, which is crucial to avoid contamination in the watershed area. They also use the same two-lane road, which becomes problematic during the winter season.

Bonar, however, says Snowbird has conducted traffic, water and sewer studies that all indicate Little Cottonwood Canyon can handle the extra capacity. Despite increased visitors, water quality has increased in the past 35 years and traffic has remained static. And he adds the increased room size is half of what Snowbird officials were originally proposing 20 years ago.

"We don't want to be a sprawl-style resort. We want to be pedestrian friendly."

Expansion also sits within Snowbird's "development footprint" — the private property 900 feet from the Snowbird Center.

Solitude Mountain Resort owner Gary DeSeelhorst is in favor of a Snowbird expansion.