Ski resort plans up for county review Monday

The Teton County, Wyoming Planning Commission will consider master plan updates for two ski resorts Monday. Snow King and Grand Targhee will bring amended plans to the commission beginning at 5 p.m.

The Snow King development is the principal responsibility of the Town of Jackson, but is being reviewed by the county to consider any potential impacts on neighboring jurisdictions and how best to plan and mitigate them.

Grand Targhee Resort has told Teton County, Wyoming officials the national recession has prevented it from implementing its 2008 expansion plan.

The 120 acre resort says the combination of market conditions and zoning regulations adopted as part of the county’s comprehensive plan update in 2012 have made its expansion plans economically unviable. An amended Master Plan also contends that mechanisms to meet land conservation conditions are no longer available.

The major changes in the plan is a more detailed phasing plan, better coordination between National Forest improvements and the base area and an alternative Community Services element. Grand Targhee proposes no changes in the shape and size of the Resort parcel.

The resort updated its Caribou-Targhee National Forest Master Development Plan last year. It proposes a number of upgrades that were part of Grand Targhee’s 1995 plan, but were never built. Those include development of new skiing terrain, five new lifts and two carpet lifts, upgrades of one chair lift and one carpet lift, increased snow making coverage, two restaurants, two warming cabins and restroom facilities, summer recreation trails, a permanent snow-tubing facility, and resort operations.

Teton County’s main concerns include parking and public transportation.

Once complete, the plan projects the resort will accommodate 5,730 skiers per day. Its current capacity is 2,980 skier days.