By Tyler Larson

December 10, 2007 | PARADISE -- With growing controversy surrounding the new development proposal for Powder Mountain, many Paradise residents are concerned as to what impact it may have on their community.

Bev Schiefer, Paradise's town recorder, says residents are concerned the road leading to Powder Mountain from Paradise, a nine-mile stretch of dirt road which is currently closed for the winter, would be paved and enlarged, causing large amounts of traffic through the town.

"It's a very emotional issue for this town," Schiefer said. "The people here like the small town feeling."

Powder Mountain's latest proposal, however, does not include a new road.

"There are no plans to build a road through Cache County to Powder Mountain, absolutely not," Lisa James, a consultant with The Exoro Group, a public relations firm working for Powder Mountain, said after Thursday's Cache County Planning and Zoning meeting.

But, says Shiefer, "Just because Powder Mountain said they don't plan on building a road, doesn't mean the county won't decide they want to get up there."

However, County Planning and Zoning Administrator Josh Ruhaar said, neither Powder Mountain nor Cache County is planning on expanding the stretch of road between the resort and Paradise.

"The cost of a road built between Paradise and Powder Mountain would be astronomical," Runhaar said.

The concern that a road would be built stems from Powder Mountain's first proposal in 2002, which did include a road connecting the resort with Paradise, but the new proposal has no mention of it, he said.

Lynn Lemon, Cache County Executive, confirmed Runhaar's statement and said there are no current plans. "One cost estimate was, I think, $80,000,000," Lemon said. "However, I don't know if that's accurate."

Lemon said the county has had requests that a road be built connecting Cache County to Powder Mountain from some Cache residents and Weber County, but with the county's $1,000,000 a year budget for roads, it's not possible.

Other concerns like water shedding and light coming off the mountain have also been mentioned, Schiefer said.

In November, Lyle Hillyard of Hillyard, Anderson & Olsen, the law firm representing Powder Mountain, attended a town council meeting in Paradise to discuss the plans for Powder Mountain and answer some of the council's questions. When lighting and eyesores were mentioned, Hillyard said the lights would be carefully directed to reduce light pollution as much as possible and eyesores won't be an issue because the mountain is not visible from Paradise.

Paradise Mayor Lee Atwood recommended a public meeting be held for the residents of Paradise so any questions could be answered. Hillyard said he agreed and recommended it be held at Mountain Crest High school.

"The meeting with Powder Mountain is set to be in January," Schiefer said.

Lemon said many misunderstandings regarding Powder Mountain's financial standing were cleared up at the County Council meeting Nov. 30. At that time, questions of whether Powder Mountain's owner had the financial ability to back up their plans were answered with Powder Mountain investors showing they have the necessary capital to go forward with their plans.

As long as Powder Mountain works things out with Weber County, it may be possible for them begin the development in as soon as six months, Lemon said.

Powder Mountain's Master Plan

-- As many as 800 new houses, town homes and condos on the Cache County side of the resort, and around 2200 on the Weber County side across the resorts 4,400 acres.

-- Raise the number of ski lifts to 18.

-- Add a 60,000 square foot recreation center.

-- A 300,000 square foot village containing retail stores and restaurants, half in each county.

-- Two 18-hole golf courses in Weber County.

-- Six corporate retreats in Cache County and another five retreats in Weber County.

--- Four hotels with 385 rooms in Weber County, and as many as 115 in Cache County.

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