The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission could issue a recommendation on a new gondola proposed at Canyons Village next week, but residents will get their chance to weigh in first.
Park City Mountain parent company Vail Resorts submitted an application to the Summit County Planning Department in October asking for a low-impact permit, which would allow the resort to expand the existing Sunrise lift into a 10-person gondola. A prospective opening date has not been announced, but construction could take multiple seasons.
Community Development Director Pat Putt could have approved the request administratively. Instead, he asked the Planning Commission to issue a recommendation to allow for additional review of the permit as well as a public hearing next week for the community to give input about the application.
A gondola traveling from the bottom of Canyons Village to the upper mountain has been envisioned since 1999 when the development agreement was created. Senior Planner Tiffanie Robinson reviewed the application and found it was consistent with the Snyderville Basin code and the Canyons Development Agreement.
“This has been anticipated for quite some time. … Not the exact details, but where it’s located,” she said.
Sunrise Gondola is intended to provide a third lift option in addition to the Red Pine Gondola and the Orange Bubble Express. It would serve as a link between the south end of the resort and the upper mountain. The goal of the realignment is to keep skiers and snowboards moving and reduce wait times.
The existing Sunrise lift only provides access back down the mountain. The proposed 6,500-foot-long gondola would be an upgrade to the older system and travel more than 1,000 vertical feet to an area near the Saddleback and High Meadow lifts.
Resort officials also expect the Sunrise Gondola to be less susceptible to wind because it would be sheltered from the north and follows the outline of the terrain rather than travel higher up, lowering the number of holds and closures in Canyons Village. Heavier cabins also provide greater stability.
Robinson said the application also includes a few other upgrades at the base area near the Hyatt Centric, the Park City Pendry and the lift. These improvements would be similar to work done at the Forum and would help maintain a consistent flow.
“This is something that we’ve anticipated for a long time, and it’s been an important component of the Canyons Development Agreement,” she said. “This is going to be a huge improvement and really create a better overall experience.”
The public is invited to give feedback about the proposal on Tuesday. The Planning Commission could issue a positive or negative recommendation — with or without conditions — after the hearing, or continue the decision to a later date. Putt will make the final decision based on the input.
Park City Mountain plans to take a phased approach if the low-impact permit is approved.
Construction could start as early as 2024. The resort would need to relocate utilities, make improvements to infrastructure and establish a lift corridor on the mountain during the second phase. Resort officials anticipate minimal impact on visitors at this time. Then, the Sunrise chairlift would be removed and equipment for the new gondola would be installed.
The Sunrise Gondola is estimated to cost $27 million. Vail Resorts will pay $18 million and the Canyons Village Management Association committed $9 million to the project.
“We are excited to continue investing in Park City Mountain, and, with this project, to get guests on snow faster out of the Canyons Village base area,” said Sara Huey, the resort’s senior manager of communications. “During this process, we have received a lot of thoughtful feedback from community members and Park City Mountain employees that will be helpful as we put together our operating plan for a future Sunrise Gondola.”
The public hearing is set for 6 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the Sheldon Richins Building.
The Planning Commission will also consider amending a conditional-use permit that would allow Home Depot in Silver Summit to expand for a tool rental center addition. The High Valley Transit District is also seeking permission to add 5,621 square feet onto its new maintenance facility, which would allow it to build two more vehicle bays.