Waterville Valley Select Board Discusses Ski Resort Expansion and Infrastructure
The Waterville Valley Select Board convened on June 4, 2025, to address key topics, including a proposed expansion of the Waterville Valley Resort and updates on town finances and infrastructure concerns.
Ski Resort Expansion Proposal
Representatives from the White Mountain National Forest presented a proposal from Waterville Valley Resort for a significant expansion (link). The proposal includes a village-to-summit lift system with a gondola for the lower portion and a gondola or a potential chondola for the upper section, six new ski trails, 200 acres of gladed terrain, snowmaking infrastructure, and two new facilities: a 20,000-square-foot mid-station storage building and a 30,000-square-foot top terminal with a restaurant and ski patrol space. Additional components involve utility connections, an 80-space parking area, and a 700-foot access road off Tripoli Road.
The project requires amendments to the 2005 Forest Plan to rezone areas for Alpine Ski Area use and adjust the special use permit boundary by approximately 333 acres. An amendment related to Canada Lynx habitat is also proposed, exempting the project from certain habitat standards due to the area’s existing unsuitable habitat conditions (link). The Forest Service is currently in the 30-day scoping period, accepting public comments until June 16, 2025, with a virtual meeting scheduled for June 5, 2025, from 6 to 7 p.m. (link). The environmental impact statement process is expected to take about two years, with potential ground work starting in three years if approved.
Financial Review
The board reviewed the town’s financial status for past repair work (link). A recent approval for additional FEMA reimbursement was mentioned, though the exact amount was not specified. The highway department’s annual budget, listed under line item 4312, was confirmed at around $600,000, covering road maintenance and plowing (link).
Infrastructure and Maintenance Concerns
The board discussed several maintenance issues, including damaged streetlights on Village Trail, a broken sign at the conference center green, and persistent drainage problems at culverts under Snow’s Mountain Road and Valley Road (link). Trash accumulation near the transfer station and displaced rocks along Snow’s Mountain Road were also raised, with plans to address these through the Department of Public Works. The board reviewed the status of a proposed speed board near the Golden Heights Road and Valley Road intersection, where prior approval was given for its installation near the new villas construction, though no updates on pricing or progress were confirmed (link). The same intersection was noted for its cluttered appearance, including dirt, rocks, a leaning sign with a red placard, and a traffic cone, with ongoing landscaping delayed by weather (link). The board emphasized consistent enforcement of the new RV and trailer zoning ordinance, particularly regarding a vehicle in the Golden Eagle parking lot registered as a pickup truck (link). Additionally, concerns were raised about construction materials stored near the tennis courts, with plans to ensure their removal within two weeks.
Zoning Board Adjustment
The board approved a motion to elevate an alternate member to a full member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment to fill a vacancy left by a resignation (link).
Upcoming Meetings
The next regular Select Board meeting is scheduled for June 18, 2025, with a Planning Board meeting set for June 12, 2025, at 8 a.m. to discuss the adventure center (link). Two special meetings are planned for the weeks of June 16 and June 23, 2025, to address the wastewater treatment plant and bond issues.
The Waterville Valley Select Board continues to engage with community stakeholders to balance development, infrastructure maintenance, and fiscal responsibility while encouraging public participation in ongoing projects.