Growth and Development

KPAX Goes Deep on Bitterroot Resort

Holy gelandesprung Batman! Quick to the batphone and call the lawyers. Get them to file motions to stop the Jokers who want to bring winter recreation to 1000's.

Craig,

I hope you realize the issue is quite a bit more complicated than you paint it. Just because Tom Maclay wants to build a huge resort and development on his own private land doesn't mean that the people need to give Maclay and his investors public, roadless wildlands on Lolo Peak. Maclay and his investors can make their tens of millions of dollars off their own private land just fine without the public offering up public land for even millions more in profits to Maclay's team.

I watched the KPAX feature as well and I thought it was fairly in-depth (especially for TV news coverage), but leaned heavily in Maclay's favor. I also recall the Florence school official being fully supportive of the project (which, as a certified school teacher myself I thought was somewhat inappropriate) but I didn't get the impression that the Lolo school official outright favored the project. In fact, I recall that he brought up a number of concerns including more automobile traffic right outside the Lolo school yard. Regardless, the question at hand is this: should the U.S. people give up pristine, roadless public lands so that real estate developers can make tens of millions hand over fist?

Bringing winter recreation to 10's of 1000's of people per day sounds like service to the public interest. Nothing wrong with making money in the process as it drives the economy.

Where are these tens of thousands, Craig? Because I certainly don't see them on the slopes at Snowbowl, Lookout, Discovery or Lost Trail. They definitely weren't at Marshall; Marshall had to close down two years ago because it wasn't making enough money. I can't imagine what makes you think that with four ski areas within a 80 mile radius of Missoula, not to mention Blacktail, Big Mountain, Great Divide and Maverick just beyond that, tens of thousands more phantom skiers are suddenly going to pop out of the pine trees just to ski on Maclay's logging roads there on the side of Lolo Peak.

Gee, Craig, I wonder if you're in the property development business yourself?

The comparison to Marshall Mountain is extremely apt, since Bitterroot Resort would also have to do a lot of snowmaking. That's an expensive proposition, and there are definite water concerns in the community.

And I don't see this resort being a huge recreation boon. The skiers I know seem to be doing just fine, and I see the destructive influence of the resort outweighing any benefits.

I started skiing at Whitefish in 1957. At that time all that was there was a T-Bar, Rope-tow, and Poma. We also had wood skis and lace-up boots. Then Head came along with metal skis. You could have any color so long as it was black. Hart followed. I watched crowds grow as the mountain has grown up. Yes, there are 1000's of skiiers per day now. Winter recreation is important to families as an alternative to destructive influences that tear them apart. Montana is growing rapidly on the westside. Recreational opportunity will be invaluable to keep families and others occupied in constructive, healthy pusuits. AND having an economic engine that has a mulitiplier effect throughout the region is a plus.

Yes, there are crowds of skiers on Big Mountain now, but they're not local families. Lift tickets there are far too pricey for average Montana working folks and their families. That's why the locals go to Blacktail, Lost Trail, Discovery and Lookout. Tom Maclay (and his planners from Vail, Aspen and Jackson Hole) envision another Whitefish: gated communities, expensive lift tickets, and property taxes that consume entire salaries. The Bitterroot Resort is designed to attract these folks, not you and your family. You yourself were a witness to Big Mountain's evolution, Craig. Now look at what's going on within Winter Sports, Inc. Do you honestly think shutting local stockholders out in favor of out-of-state investors is good for the local community?

There's no shortage of recreational opportunities here, Craig. You and your family can drive in any direction and ski to your hearts' content. That won't change if the Forest Service turns Maclay's proposal down tomorrow. Our economy will survive. Western Montana is in the midst of amazing growth; however, what this state needs is more manufacturing jobs, energy development and computer technology, not just another chance for the locals to be the hired help.

Becky, for what it's worth on a ratio of about 5 to 1 I rode up on the lifts with valley people this past winter. The tourists that come from afar bring in the $$$ that would not otherwise come to town. Just my opinion and observations. Instead of "No" figure out "How" that creates win-win results.

Good point, Craig. How is easy--Tom Maclay can develop his private property, within the guidelines of the law, however he wishes. Now it's your turn. Since we're playing word games, let's choose "why". As in, "Why should we allow Tom Maclay to confiscate public land for private profit?"

Becky, no word games here. I've given you my straight opinion. I find nothing evil in profit as it has served us well, payed our salaries and created the pool of capital for development that has served both private and public interest. Let's return to "how" as that is the key. There is no reason that Mr. Maclay should not be on the receiving end of constructive negotiations that keep the public in public interest while he makes a profit while being the one bearing the risk. That is the win-win I'm talking about.

How is it that Tom McClay is going to take over ownership of Forest Service land if Bitterroot Resort is granted a special use permit to operate on Carlton Ridge or Lolo Peak? Fact is, I'll still be able to hike or ski anywhere on that land anytime I want to if Bitterroot Resort takes shape. It will still be "OUR" land.

Becky: Do you really want more Manufacturing and Energy Development in the Bitterroot? Smoke stacks instead of ski runs? What gives?

Excuse me, Micheal, but the 12,000 acres Maclay is trying to grab for profit is largely public roadless land--it's not a question of either/or, either ski runs or smoke stacks. The American people are best served in retaining that land as wild and roadless.

No, there's nothing inherently evil in profit, but there's something very evil in greed. Especially greed at the expense of others, and here I'm referring to the wild animals who inhabit and rely on that land. Some of us--many of us--see them as stakeholders here, too, although this might seem a foreign or trivial concept to those whose vision is obscured by dollar signs.