After putting together the Pagosa Springs SUN Newspaper Archives, I figured: why stop? Over in Durango, the Durango Telegraph has printed a number of interesting articles and letters regarding the proposed Village at Wolf Creek.
With a couple articles deserving to be highlighted:
The first, though dated in it's legal details, does an excellent job of describing the Fens/Wetlands situation and regulatory complications. Illustrating some of the unavoidable impacts development would have on this watershed to the Rio Grande River. The second article describes the increasing stress the Rio Grande National Forest biosphere is suffering, and why we must take care of what we have.
The first, though dated in it's legal details, does an excellent job of describing the Fens/Wetlands situation and regulatory complications. Illustrating some of the unavoidable impacts development would have on this watershed to the Rio Grande River. The second article describes the increasing stress the Rio Grande National Forest biosphere is suffering, and why we must take care of what we have.
Wetlands heat up Wolf Creek debate ~ Agencies clash over mapping of ‘old-growth’ fens
CoverStory, Adam Howell~ ~ ~
Rio Grande forest ‘endangered’
Quick 'n' Dirty
=====================
The “Village At Wolf Creek” Archives
{ going back to 2005 }
=====================
2011
Model T to heli-ski ~ The little Wolf that
could
“Wolf Creek has come to be known as the original
renegade ski resort. {...}
And now, with plans to expand with everything from
beginner to expert and heli-skiing options, the little Wolf may soon hold its
own with the likes of Silverton Mountain, Crested Butte and Telluride. . .”
~ ~ ~
Village at Wolf Creek back in the spotlight
“The Village at Wolf Creek is back on the table and
going on public display next week. The Rio Grande National Forest is working on
an environmental analysis of a land exchange that would open access to
developer Red McCombs’ landlocked parcel atop Wolf Creek Pass. As part of the
process, the agency is hosting a public field trip Sept. 20.
{...}
“There is significant public interest and enough
potential benefit to the proposed land exchange over the previous right-of-way
application to merit a full environmental analysis,” RGNF Supervisor Dan Dallas
said this spring. . .”
~ ~ ~
McCombs land swap up for review
“The Village at Wolf Creek is back on the table and
open to public scrutiny. ...
The swap would exchange 178 acres of McCombs’
property for 204 Forest Service acres abutting U.S. Hwy. 160. If approved, it
would give the Village a total of nearly 324 acres and enable McCombs to
construct 1,700 units near the top of Wolf Creek Pass. . .”
=====================
2010
Gambling at Wolf Creek Pass
“Dear Editors,
On Feb. 17, Congressman Salazar held an informative Village at Wolf
Creek panel discussion with representatives from government, business,
environmental groups, Mr. McCombs and Mr. Jones, the developer. The
Congressman’s goal was to get all the stakeholders together and find a path
toward consensus so that the Village at Wolf Creek project could finally move
forward. . . P.M.”
=====================
2009
Red McCombs as usual
“Dear Editors,
Last week was filled with news about the reawakened push for the Village
at Wolf Creek speculative development. First Red McCombs hires Michael Dino, a
heavyweight Democratic lobbyist. His mission: bring in the money cannons. Dino
knows where to aim them for greatest effect in developing political channels
for side-stepping public review.
As the week unfurled we learned the new plan hinges
on a land swap effectively moving the development a few hundred yards. Also,
“Hal Jones Development” is now proposing a resort merely three-quarters the
size of the original 10,000-person conception.
The key ingredient to this new strategy would be
Congressman Salazar sponsoring a land-swap bill. As Clint Jones, of HJD, says
John Salazar is the only one who could credibly carry the land-exchange act
through Congress. . . P M”
~ ~ ~
Son of the Village: New Wolf Creek plan in
works
“Red McCombs’ Village at Wolf Creek appears to be
in hibernation mode, at least for the moment. The controversial development was
back-burnered in February when the Rio Grande National Forest officially ended
its review. However, opponents of the plan have gotten word that the “Village,”
with its thousands of units, multiple hotels and restaurants, and variety of
high-altitude impacts, will soon be back in a revised form.
This is not the first time the configuration the
Village of Wolf Creek has changed. . .”
~ ~ ~
Red Visits The Reservation ~ McCombs gets
cool reception on Navajo Nation
“Red McCombs has been working to stake a claim in
another of the Southwest’s Four Corners. In recent years, the Texas billionaire
developer has actively pushed two ventures on the Navajo Nation – a
mega-development and an alternative energy project. However, just like McCombs’
other venture near Wolf Creek, the tides have turned against the Texan and his
partner, Bob Honts.
McCombs and Honts gained notoriety in Durango in
recent years for their proposed Village at Wolf Creek. The Clear Channel Radio
baron and his “lieutenant” envisioned a virtual city at the base of the Wolf
Creek Ski Area with plans for 2,172 housing units and more than 220,000 square
feet of commercial space, including restaurants and hotels. . .”
~ ~ ~
McCombs back-burnered
“The Village at Wolf Creek fell onto the back
burner last week when the Rio Grande National Forest officially ended its
review of the controversial development plan. However, opponents of the plan
for thousands of units just off Wolf Creek Pass are quick to note that the
fight may be far from over. . .”
=====================
2008
Forest puts Red McCombs on hold
“The Village at Wolf Creek fell onto the back
burner last week. The Rio Grande National Forest has put review of the
controversial development plan on hold until proponent Red McCombs discloses
the changes that were made to the “village’s” configuration.
McCombs, the Clear Channel Radio baron and former
Minnesota Vikings owner, has pitched the large-scale development near the base
of the Wolf Creek Ski Area, which is unaffiliated with the project. In his
original plan, the Texas developer was pushing for 2,172 units and more than
220,000 square feet of commercial space, including 12 restaurants and several
hotels. . .”
~ ~ ~
The Billy Joe Effect ~ By Will Sands
“You can practically hear the sales pitch.
“BJ Enterprises (that’s Billy Joe for y’all out of
the know) brings you the latest and greatest in resort design. As the one-time
owner of the Minnesota Vikings and San Antonio Spurs, BJ “Red” McCombs is no
stranger to victories. By sparing no expense (and greasing a palm or two) the
Village at Navajo Canyon has come to represent one of Red’s top victories.”
That’s right, folks. Durango’s favorite Texas
billionaire has been a busy man this year. He’s gone back to the Village at
Wolf Creek drawing board; tried to sneak a revision of said Village past the
Forest Service and the public; and is currently managing the nation’s sixth
largest auto conglomerate during a time when turbo diesel is sucking serious
exhaust. And as it turns out, Red has also been getting his fingers dirty on
the Navajo Nation. Apparently the man who also owns Clear Channel Radio wants a
foothold in all Four of our Corners. According to a recent letter in the Navajo
Times, Red’s “lieutenant” Bob Honts has been pushing for a giant, new
development along the shores of Lake Powell. . .”
~ ~ ~
McCombs changes Village plans
“Shady information is once again descending on the
Village at Wolf Creek. Just as the Rio Grande National Forest has reopened the
high-altitude development to public scrutiny, the Village’s configuration has
mysteriously changed. . .”
~ ~ ~
McCombs goes back to square one
“The Village at Wolf Creek has been reopened to
public scrutiny. Once again, the Rio Grande National Forest has kicked off the
public scoping process for the Wolf Creek Access Environmental Impact
Statement, and three public meetings have been scheduled. . .”
~ ~ ~
McCombs returns to square one
“The fight against the “Village at Wolf Creek”
celebrated a monumental victory this week. Following 16 months of legal
wrangling, the Forest Service and developer Red McCombs agreed to go back to
the drawing board and complete a fair and unbiased Environmental Impact
Statement for the controversial development proposed for the base of the Wolf
Ski Area.
“The Village” is in no way connected to Wolf
Creek ski area, which is widely recognized as an environmentally friendly,
no-frills, family-run operation. . .”
=====================
2007
Court rules against Village
“Red McCombs took a major stumble last week. The
Colorado Court of Appeals has ruled that Mineral County commissioners wrongly
approved the Village at Wolf Creek, representing a substantial delay for the
development, which hoped to be under construction by now. . .”
~ ~ ~
Billy Joe in Palestine
“Billy Joe “Red” McCombs is getting inked all over
the world. Though the Village at Wolf Creek front has been largely silent in
Durango in recent months, thePalestine Chronicle, a publication devoted to the
Arab-Israeli conflict, has picked up the story.
Joshua Frank, author ofLeft Out! How Liberals
Helped Reelect George W. Bush, recently passed through the region and picked up
the Friends of Wolf Creek banner. In a column for thePalestine Chronicle, Frank
gives background on the proposed 10,000-person village, remarks that McCombs is
one of the 400 richest Americans and then lets it fly.
“McCombs’ vision, not unlike that of Pete Seibert
and Earl Eaton who built the township near Vail, is sustained by greed and a
rampant disregard for the wild,” he writes. “Like most capitalists, McCombs is
in it for the money and status. Nothing more.”. . .”
~ ~ ~
Village at Wolf Creek suffers setback
“The court has smiled on efforts to turn back the
proposed Village at Wolf Creek. On June 6, U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge
David West issued a recommendation to extend the Preliminary Injunction that
has held the proposed “Village” at Wolf Creek at a standstill since last fall.
The earlier injunction was set to expire this Friday, on June 15, a turn of
events that would have allowed developers to begin work at the site adjacent to
the Wolf Creek Ski Area. . .”
~ ~ ~
Wolf Creek under pressure ~ Colorado Wild
files for injunction extension
“The ground atop Wolf Creek Pass may be thawing,
but the bulldozers’ engines will remain cold, at least for a few more weeks.
Last week, Durango-based environmental group
Colorado Wild was granted an extension to its injunction temporarily halting
construction of a road to the controversial Village at Wolf Creek. The original
injunction, issued Nov. 15, 2006, expired May 1. However, a federal district
court judge agreed to extend the injunction until at least June 15 at the
group’s request. Colorado Wild is currently working on its case to extend the
injunction indefinitely while it compiles documentation necessary to make its
case against the development in court. . .”
=====================
2006
Lawsuit hits Village at Wolf Creek
“Wolf Creek stepped back into the courtroom, just
days prior to the ski area’s Oct. 27 opening. Colorado Wild and the San Luis
Valley Ecosystem Council filed a lawsuit on Oct. 19, challenging the Forest
Service’s approval of two separate roads accessing the Village at Wolf Creek.
The suit also challenges recent Forest Service decisions that make it easier
for the developer to begin construction. . .”
~ ~ ~
Village access triggers lawsuit
“The Village at Wolf Creek is stepping back into
the courtroom. Last week, the Regional Office of the Forest Service upheld the
Rio Grande National Forest’s March 15 decision to authorize two separate access
roads across public land to the massive development near the Wolf Creek Ski Area.
The opposition now plans to take the fight to the next level and file a
lawsuit. . .”
~ ~ ~
Village at Wolf Creek appeal filed
“The Village at Wolf Creek received a hefty
challenge last week when three organizations challenged the Forest Service’s
April 3 approval of two access roads to the giant development. The appeal
alleges that the agency made major errors in its analysis and failed to live up
to its responsibilities to the public. A Texas development company, headed by
Clear Channel Radio baron and former Minnesota Vikings owner Red McCombs, has
pitched the Village at Wolf Creek. The development would be located on 287.5
acres at the base of the Wolf Creek Ski Area’s Alberta quad and would include
2,172 units on 162 lots, 5,176 bedrooms and 222,100 square feet of commercial
space including 12 restaurants, multiple hotels and a convention center. . .”
~ ~ ~
Me and Billy Joe
“{...}
Was this a secret attempt to buy off a small piece
of the media? Attempted collusion? Has a McCombs’ attorney been ghost-writing
large sections of the newspaper?
I’m afraid not. She was just a “junior media buyer”
stuck in an air-conditioned cubicle somewhere in the great elsewhere – a junior
media buyer who forgot to do her research before making contact. After all,
business ventures are relationships at heart, and Red and I still have a lot of
ground to cover. . .”
~ ~ ~
The price of paving Hidden Valley
“Dear Editors,
Isn’t it always the way? Those with the most want even more and use
their political connections to try to get those with the least to buy it for
them. If it’s not billionaire Red McCombs and his Village at Wolf Creek, it was
that developer who wanted Durango to annex his Animas Valley property so
taxpayers could buy his road access, water and sewer services, and fire and
police protection for him. Then he could reap the increased profits from his
now, more-valuable lots. . . W.H.”
~ ~ ~
Deitch the Village
“Dear Editors, Abuse or depletion of
common-property resources is referred to as the tragedy of the commons. From an
environmental perspective, the Village at Wolf Creek is a classic example of
this tragedy. As most are aware, the Village is a huge environmental threat on
many levels (e.g., biodiversity, water, etc.). This threat calls for aggressive
responses and priorities.
D.R-P. . .”
~ ~ ~
The backside of the decision: Colorado Wild
continues to allege corruption
“Collusion, insider dealing, influence peddling and
corruption are all terms that have flown over the Village at Wolf Creek. The
Forest Service’s announcement Monday that it has approved access to the
proposed development is no exception.
In conjunction with the decision, Colorado Wild
released results of its comprehensive research into the process leading up to
the decision. The group argues that its White Paper, including 28 exhibits, demonstrates
undue and potentially illegal influence over the Forest Service and its
environmental review. . .”
~ ~ ~
Village gets a green light ~ Forest Service
awards McCombs access to parcel
“The Forest Service opened a door for the Village
at Wolf Creek this week. On Monday, the agency officially removed a stumbling
block to the massive development when it authorized access to the parcel at the
base of Wolf Creek Ski Area. . .”
~ ~ ~
Wolf Creek forum reset for April 7
“A debate between Village at Wolf Creek developers
and several state legislators has been postponed. Originally scheduled for
March 24, the forum has been delayed until April 7 to accommodate lawmakers,
particularly Rep. Mark Larson, who have to travel from Denver. . .”
~ ~ ~
Wolf Creek correspondence vanishes ~ E-mail
exchanges over wetlands delineation deleted
In an ongoing round of housecleaning, some
scraps of controversy surrounding wetlands at Wolf Creek may have been swept
under the rug of public disclosure. Under the rug are e-mails that officials at
the Army Corps of Engineers exchanged with the Environmental Protection Agency
over the wetlands delineation the Corps approved for the proposed Village at
Wolf Creek. While the EPA disclosed its exchanges, an official with the Army
Corps deleted theirs, according to Army Corps attorney Dennis Wallace.
~ ~ ~
Too much is never enough
Dear Editors, The Denver Post printed an important
article by Mike Soraghan, (Feb. 5, 2006): “Wolf Creek development tangled with
political ties.” It chronicles the influence peddling of “Red” McCombs and his
associates in their effort to build a monstrous housing and commercial complex
near Wolf Creek Pass (elevation 10,850 feet). I found it compelling enough to
share some excerpts: . . .”
~ ~ ~
Larson calls for Wolf Creek probe
“On the heels of more allegations of illegal
political influence, the Village at Wolf Creek could face a federal
investigation. State Rep. Mark Larson, R-Cortez, said that he believes there is
evidence of undue influence and pressure being brought to bear by the developer
and it warrants scrutiny from on high. . .”
~ ~ ~
Agency to release McCombs papers
The light is about to shine on the Village at Wolf
Creek. A favorable ruling in federal district court last week is the latest
step in an ongoing legal saga to acquire publicly available documents –
including all communications between the developer and the U.S. Forest Service.
=====================
2005
http://www.durangotelegraph.com/index.cfm/archives/2005/december-29-2005/wetlands-heat-up-wolf-creek-debate/
Wetlands heat up Wolf Creek debate ~ Agencies
clash over mapping of ‘old-growth’ fens
Wetlands are currently boiling with controversy in
the vicinity of Wolf Creek Ski Area.
According to recently obtained e-mails, two
agencies are throwing jabs in a recent bout over the regulation of wetlands as
they relate to the proposed Village at Wolf Creek. According to the exchange,
the Army Corps of Engineers’ Albuquerque District has prevented the
Environmental Protection Agency from verifying the locations of wetlands at the
site of the proposed developed.
{...}
. . . As a result, Project Manager Anita Culp of
the Corps’ Southern Colorado Regulatory Office offered the EPA dates in
September for when the two agencies could work together on the project. But shortly
thereafter, her boss, Dan Malanchuk, chief of the Corps’ Albuquerque District,
refused to clear it and ordered her to block the EPA’s request to review their
wetlands delineations. . .
{...}
{...}"
~ ~ ~
Salazar takes on Wolf Creek proposal
“The controversial Village at Wolf Creek received a
challenge from a high place this week. After reviewing its scope and impact,
Rep. John T. Salazar, D-Colo., has stated his opposition to the proposed
development. . .”
~ ~ ~
Rio Grande forest ‘endangered’
“Wolf Creek Ski Area cranked up for a limited
opening last Friday amid more controversy. Rio Grande National Forest, the
public land surrounding Wolf Creek, has landed on the list of “America’s Most
Endangered National Forests.” The National Forest Protection Alliance recently
released its third biennial report listing 12 of the country’s most endangered
national forests.
{...}
The Rio Grande National Forest was named as one of
“The Dirty Dozen,” courtesy of the proposed Village at Wolf Creek and numerous
industrial timber sale proposals already under way. . .”
~ ~ ~
Colorado Wild taps a new director
“Colorado Wild, the Durango-based conservation
group, has new leadership. Ryan Demmy Bidwell has taken over executive director
duties for the group, which has made headlines on everything from the Village
at Wolf Creek to defeating the Missionary Ridge Timber Sale. Bidwell replaces
outgoing director Jeff Berman. . .”
~ ~ ~
Red McCombs runs into a roadblock
The opposition has celebrated another significant
victory in the fight to block the Village at Wolf Creek development. Last
Friday, District Court Judge John Kuenhold threw out Mineral County’s approval
of the controversial development proposed next to, but not affiliated with, the
Wolf Creek Ski Area.
~ ~ ~
Accusations fly over Wolf Creek - Group
alleges back-room dealings between Forest Service, developer
“Allegations of backroom dealings are currently
hovering over Wolf Creek Pass. A watchdog group has accused the Forest Service
of being in bed with the developers proposing a ?Vail-sized city? at the base
of the Wolf Creek Ski Area. The development?s proponents flatly deny the
allegations. . .”
~ ~ ~
Fight against Wolf Creek mobilizes
“The fight against the Village at Wolf Creek is picking
up steam. Citizens from across Colorado, under the banner of “Friends of Wolf
Creek,” gathered last week to craft the next steps in the growing effort to
counter the proposed Village at Wolf Creek real estate development. . .”
~ ~ ~
Lynx highway mitigation in works - Developers
would have to build or pay for wildlife crossings
“It has been a banner year for lynx recovery
efforts in Southwest Colorado. However, federal wildlife officials are working
to ensure that the sensitive species is not on a crash course with development
in the reintroduced cat’s habitat.
{...}
“The increase in traffic associated with these
developments is the biggest issue,” said Kurt Broderdorp, a biologist with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Grand Junction. “Highway 160 recently had a
dead lynx, and there have been several cats killed down there due to traffic.”
~ ~ ~
Wolf Creek plan draws more heat
“An already hot situation is nearing the boiling
point at Wolf Creek Pass. Two more lawsuits were filed last week over the
proposed Village at Wolf Creek. Durango-based Colorado Wild said it filed the
suits to press the Forest Service to act in the public interest. . .”
~ ~ ~
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