CARRABASSETT VALLEY — The Planning Board voted Thursday to conditionally approve Boyne Resort’s final subdivision plan and site plan application for the expansion for Sugarloaf’s West Mountain.
The board requires that the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Maine Department of Transportation permits be received, and that within 30 days the Conditional Performance Guarantee Agreement between the developer and the town be executed, Code Enforcement Officer Chris Parks wrote in an email.
The West Mountain Project is “a key component of Sugarloaf’s 2030 Plan,” which represents “a major enhancement for Sugarloaf,” according to documents submitted to the state.
“The purpose of the project is to employ a comprehensive master planning approach to further develop the western side of Sugarloaf Mountain to include additional ski trails for all abilities, skier services infrastructure, roads, bridges, parking lots, and housing consisting of condominiums, duplex-style townhomes and single-family lots,” according to documents.
The project includes 54 single-family lots, four condominium buildings each totaling 22 to 28 units, depending on interior configuration, for a total of 88 to 112 units. There are 22 duplex-style townhomes (44 units), associated access of roadways, parking, and utilities and stormwater facilities.
The Planning Board found Thursday that the final plan met town ordinances, with a waiver granted last month to allow 9- by 18-foot parking spaces instead of the required 10- by 20-foot spaces. The reasons are: the developer will suffer undue economic hardship; the public health and safety will not be compromised with the change; and it allows more practical and economical development.
Bob Carlton of Freeman Township, owner of Freeman Ridge Forestry, will oversee the timber harvest for the project.
The goals of the expansion are:
• Improving Sugarloaf’s trail mix to provide additional intermediate and beginner terrain;
• Enhancing protection against strong winds that require partial shutdowns of lifts;
• Providing additional parking and convenient lift access for guests;
• Providing four-season use, a goal that is critical for success of ski areas moving forward. The addition of the lift will be transformative for summers at Sugarloaf and would allow the use of its midmountain Bullwinkle’s Restaurant for weddings, concerts and food beverage services.
• Increasing skier visits by providing additional single-family residential housing on site.
• Increasing the bed base with new townhomes and condominiums.
“Sugarloaf is currently experiencing a shortage of housing units available at the mountain. The project would also assist in funding the new lift, 140 acres of new ski terrain, and snowmaking that are the core of the project,” according to documents.
The project will include about 140 acres of beginner and intermediate ski terrain, a new high-speed lift, short length of the West Mountain lift, a skier services building of about 1,500 square feet including 24 restaurant seats, small kitchen and bar, small lodge seating area and an office and for ticket sales. Three new parking lots including about 366 parking spaces are also expected to be constructed.
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