Bear River Watershed Council

To the editor:

I am writing in response to recent news about plans to build a ski resort in Cherry Canyon east of Richmond. As a local skiing enthusiast and a former ski patroller who spent 10-plus years employed at major resorts around the West (including Vail and Mammoth), I sense that the developers have overlooked an obvious and major planning issue: the lack of local and visiting skiers to Cache Valley! Beaver Mountain does not meet its daily skier capacity during the winter despite excellent planning and management; why, then, do the developers believe their resort will attract enough skiers to ensure success?

I for one will continue to support Beaver Mountain, and would not be tempted to patronize a second, much smaller, lower-elevation, pet-project of someone’s that will rely heavily on snowmaking and the blaring floodlights of a night-skiing system, which will adversely impact the adjacent wilderness area.

Perhaps someday there will be the local and visitor interest (AND ACTUAL DEMAND!) for a second ski resort. But that does not exist at present, and Cherry Canyon is not the ideal location. Let’s maximize use of the ski area we already have, rather than diluting the finite interest that exists and reducing the likelihood of either local resort to succeed economically. The developers are obviously relying on visions of profit and wishful thinking for an adequate long-term snow pack and adequate numbers of skiers. I seriously doubt either will materialize.

Gary O’Brien
Logan

Dear Editor,

The proposed ski resort for the mouth of Cherry Creek Canyon will have unprecedented consequences to the wild turkey population that was established there by the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR). The introduction of these game birds was made possible with hunting fees and taxpayer monies and the loss of this recreational opportunity is another one of the unseen costs from this proposed development. All hunters should contact the Cache County Planning and Zoning Commission with their concerns not only about impacts to the turkey population but the deer, elk, and moose that utilize the adjacent DWR property. The costs are too high.

Guy Perkins, Utah Bowhunters
Smithfield

To the editor:

I read a recent story in The Herald Journal, titled "County debates ski resort," and have the following concerns which I hope the Cache County Planning Commission and the Richmond City Council will see are addressed before the issuing of a permit to the Rainey Ranch Ski Resort.

The area in question is at the end of a gravel county road that continues up a one-lane gravel road adjoined by private and public land. Who will pay for the taking of land, widening, improvements and maintenance required to safely move 350 to 450 vehicles per day in and out of the area? Richmond city and the Richmond Irrigation Co. both take water from the drainage in Cherry Creek Canyon.

What are the developers going to do to guarantee the continued supply and quality of our water? Richmond currently has a volunteer ambulance service. Will the current service be adequate, and if not, who will pay to upgrade that service if necessary? If traffic control measures are necessary to ensure the safety of schoolchildren due to increased traffic in Richmond city, who will pay for those measures?

Currently, the answer to these questions is: the taxpayers of Richmond and Cache County. A cost/benefit analysis needs to be done to make sure the infrastructure costs of this project will not burden taxpayers. I do not want tax dollars used to subsidize the infrastructure necessary to make viable such a speculative venture that will serve so few people.

Sam Schropp
Richmond

Dear Editor,

It is with great trepidation that I listen to the debate concerning the Rainey Ski Resort proposal. I live in Richmond on 300 East where a predicted 200-400 vehicles will make their sojourn twice a day to this “resort.” My foremost concern is the safety of my grandchildren who visit me often and play in my yard. On the days where they build snowman or have a snowball fight they won’t always be watch for those hundreds of vehicles. This street doesn’t have curb and gutter or sidewalks and is not designed for the amount of traffic they propose. If this road needs to be upgraded, who pays?

Today in Richmond, you’ll likely see two pick-up trucks sitting idle in the street while the two drivers shoot the breeze. Tomorrow, if this proposal becomes reality, this rural way of life will no longer exist.

Vivian Christensen
Richmond

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Letters to the editor

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Reproduce responsibly - Marlene Conner (05/10/2012) (The ski resort is mentioned in the context of responsible growth for Cache Valley.)

Reproduce responsibly - Marlene Conner (05/10/2012)
(The ski resort is mentioned in the context of responsible
growth for Cache Valley.)