The new Eclipse Snow Park northwest of Idaho Springs will have to wait a little longer to know if it can start planning for opening day.
The Clear Creek County planning commission hearing on the ski area’s rezoning request was continued Wednesday night until Nov. 15.
Owner Michael Coors said earlier Wednesday that he plans to open Eclipse sometime this winter with roughly 20 acres of terrain served by one T-bar lift.
“We are quietly optimistic that we can open this season,” he said.
Last year, Coors led the investment group that purchased the dormant 284-acre St. Mary’s Glacier ski area for $1.65 million.
Coors, 25, is the son of CoorsTek chief executive John K. Coors, a great-grandson of brewery founder Adolph Coors.
If approved by the planning commission, the project will go to the board of county commissioners, which has final say.
Roughly 100 local residents attended Wednesday’s hearing, with more than 30 people speaking out in favor of and against the ski area.
“I think it will diversify our tax base and create new jobs, both of which are good things for our community,” said Einar Jensen, who works for Evergreen Fire Rescue.
Opponents cited concerns about increased traffic and noise, along with questions about water runoff and waste issues.
“We’re the people who have to live here and the traffic on the road is already infuriating,” said Bill Arnold, who has lived on the local access road that leads up to the proposed ski area for 13 years.
Coors’ vision for Eclipse has shifted focus in recent months toward a more family-friendly day skier area, instead of a dedicated terrain park. He said terrain park elements would be available on only about 40 percent of the runs.
“We want to have a really good terrain park for the younger guys, but also have it be a place for their parents and for people who just want to get out of town for a quick ski,” he said.
If it opens, Eclipse will become the third ski area in Clear Creek County. It would become the state’s 27th ski area.
Staff writer Julie Dunn can be reached at 303-954-1592 or jdunn@denverpost.com.
