SAM Magazine-Pagosa Springs, Colo., July 30, 2010-Developers of the Village at Wolf Creek have presented a new plan for a proposed land swap near the top of Wolf Creek Pass, where they hope to create a ski-in, ski-out village with up to 1,700 residential units at an elevation of 10,300 feet.

The developer acknowledges that the new plan will still require a lot of work before anything concrete occurs, even if the project had widespread support. But the environmental group Colorado Wild opposes a village of any size at Wolf Creek, and it vows to fight the latest plan. That opposition could further slow the process.

The proposed deal would swap 178 acres owned by Wolf Creek ski area with 178 acres owned by the developer, B.J. McCombs. The ski area would gain some property close to the ski mountain, while the developer would get, among other things, much-needed land to connect the proposed village to U.S. Highway 160.

Without a land exchange for an access road, McCombs must rely on a law that requires private property owners be allowed access to their property if it is surrounded by federal land.

McCombs began his quest to build a village at Wolf Creek on his 287-acre in-holding 20 years ago. He had hoped at one time to accommodate up to 10,000 residents and vacation homeowners, though the current plan cuts back on those numbers. Those plans fell apart when sufficient road access was not available.

The latest plan includes private condos and townhomes and two hotels. An initial phase would create about 500 units.

Colorado Wild, in opposing the project at any size, points to issues of water and power supply, as well as undetermined environmental impacts.

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