Durango – Texas developers Billy Joe “Red” McCombs and Bob Honts, along with several environmental groups, have appealed the Forest Service’s April 3 decision authorizing two access roads for the proposed $1 billion Village at Wolf Creek.
The developers, the Leavell- McCombs Joint Venture, had asked for a 250-foot extension of an existing road through Wolf Creek Ski Area to build their ski village. Instead, Honts said Wednesday, the Forest Service required them to pay for that $500,000 extension and to construct a second road, the Snow Shed Road, which their engineers have estimated will cost more than $12 million and take three or four years to build.
“We’re not happy with the decision, and we have appealed,” Honts said.
Three environmental groups, which oppose any access for a massive project that could include up to 2,172 residential units and 222,100 square feet of commercial space, said they had postmarked their appeal in time for the Tuesday deadline.
Colorado Wild, San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council and San Juan Citizens Alliance said the Forest Service’s access decision was based on an environmental analysis that had major errors in scope and substance.
Their appeal also alleges that the developer improperly influenced the Forest Service decision- making process.
The Forest Service has 45 days to respond to the appeals. Regional Forester Rick Cables will make a decision by mid-July.
Forest Service spokeswoman Janelle Smith at regional headquarters in Lakewood said late Wednesday that the office had received only three appeals, but the agency allows five business days for the receipt of any appeals postmarked by the deadline.
The Forest Service had received appeals from the Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture, the New Mexico- based Carson Forest Watch and a private citizen, Jonelle Tucker of Lyons.
Honts said that the Forest Service decision essentially denied the developers access for several years, a violation of federal law requiring the agency to provide reasonable access to private inholdings in the national forest.
The Forest Service decision restricted village use of the existing ski area road known as the Tranquility Road, for which the 250-foot extension was planned, during winter months. It allows only for emergency vehicles and some shuttles.
Staff writer Electa Draper can be reached at 970-385-0917 or edraper@denverpost.com.
