Just Not Meant To Be
Perhaps the backers of the proposed Bitterroot Resort will come to the conclusion it’s just not meant to be. Here’s hoping!
Those of us opposed to the leasing of National Forest land on Lolo Peak to the Bitterroot Resort for development of a “premier” ski area and golf community cite a catalog of concerns on which we base our opposition: environmental, impact on the local community, access issues, water rights issues, etc (see the Friends of Lolo Peak website for more discussion of such issues). Proponents of the idea have consistently cited benefits to the local economy, an argument of which I’ve been skeptical of, as the reason to support the proposal.
Back on April 13, I first read of creditors placing liens against the property for non-payment and wondered if those contractors who have had to place property liens due to non-payment on the part of the Bitterroot Resort for services rendered by those companies are feeling the “economic benefit”?
Maclay originally sought permission to use 11,000 acres of the Lolo and Bitterroot national forests above 3,000 acres of his own property. After five subsequent drafts, the plan most recently called for 212 acres of gladed skiing, 766 acres of Nordic skiing, 585 acres of guided ski touring and 1,461 acres of mountain bike trails. Maclay also proposed building up to 2,700 homes and a golf course on his own land below Carlton Ridge.
Stevensville District Ranger Dan Ritter said he’d been waiting since December 2008 for updated financial information from Maclay in order to continue work on a U.S. Forest Service special use permit for the project.
source>> http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/article_51c32b20-b3ca-11de-b274-001cc4c002e0.html
Bitterroot Resort (Maclay and his partners) haven’t kept faith with creditors, I don’t trust them to keep faith with the property owners of the land he wants to commercialize. That’s you and me.
Waiting for 10 months for updated financial information? We can’t allow an operation that can’t “get it together” to develop National Forest lands.
I hope these foreclosures are the nail in the coffin of the proposed Bitterroot Resort. I’m sorry the creditors got stiffed but I’m glad that it could mean the end of the proposal.
Filed under: Speaking Out
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