Document text
Since You Asked: No legal hurdles remain for ski area expansion Monday Oct 31, 2016 at 12:01 AM I know that the Mt. Ashland Ski Area is not planning an expansion anytime soon, but I'm not sure what the legal status is right now if they did want to move ahead with it. Does the ski area have court permission to begin construction of a new lift if it had the money do do so? — Jim, Medford   The proposed expansion of the ski area has cleared court challenges by environmental groups opposed to a new chairlift and ski runs, according to Mt. Ashland Ski Area General Manager Hiram Towle. "There is no pending litigation at this time," he said. "I'm not saying they couldn't come back with a new argument." The expansion cleared the latest legal hurdle in October when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court decision that further analysis of the expansion by the U.S. Forest Service isn't needed, Towle said. That being said, ski officials have no plans to expand at any time in the foreseeable future. Instead, they are focusing resources on improving and maintaining components of the existing ski area, including the lodge and snow groomers, Towle said. "I hope people will support us in our efforts — which are to make sure what we have now is as good as it can be," he said. Outdated figures put the cost of building a new ski lift and runs at $6 million. The Mt. Ashland Ski Area would have to get updated cost estimates and do years of planning to put in an expansion of that size, Towle said. It would also have to have the money on hand to proceed, he said. The ski area has carried out many of the less controversial elements of the broad-ranging expansion plan previously approved by the Forest Service. Those improvements included expanding the parking lot and widening existing runs, he noted. Three years ago, low snow kept the ski area shuttered for the winter, and continued low snow conditions meant reduced days of operation two years ago. Plentiful snow last winter brought crowds of skiers and snowboarders to the mountain. Ski officials adopted a more cautious approach regarding the proposed expansion after the low-snow years financially strained the ski area. — Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.