I was born and raised in Elko, and my main takeaway on this proposed private project is simple: property rights matter. A landowner should have the ability to use and improve their property—it is their property, not the community’s to control.

Whether this project is in Spring Creek or elsewhere in the county, we already know our area is growing. With new mining activity and continued development coming into Spring Creek, change is happening regardless. The question isn’t if we grow—it’s how.

Let’s support smart, well-planned infrastructure and growth so we don’t get bottlenecked or forced into reactive decisions later. Thoughtful development benefits everyone.

Regarding the CUP for a private ski resort with up to 5 lifts, I found this article most interesting. The 'friends and family' will probably be rich elite people with the funds to afford a membership in a private ski resort which apparently can run from thousands of dollars to a million. Is this worth the amount of disturbance that will incur and also is this amount of development, actually allowed under OS zoning? https://seniorsskiing.com/the-rise-of-private-ski-resorts-for-the-very-wealthy/

According to the Forest Service map, this area of concern is a checkered border area of private and Forest Service land. In Sept. 2024 Mike Shanks bulldozed a road across this land without forest service consent and created an eye sore from long distances.
I would like the Forest Service to address this. And then follow up with a dialog on the use of Forest Service land in this area and whether the public has a right to public access on the land, excluding that belonging to this private owner. It is currently being locked up and posted with no trespassing signs.

Please dont let this happen. Our beautiful Ruby Mountains are something that so many of us look at each day with Thankfulness that we live in such a beautiful area and to have this “private residence/lodge with 5 chair lift” would only be the beginning of a long drawn out process to commercialize our beautiful mountains. Water is a huge concern given that it would take huge amounts to make snow and as of this winter the amount would be astronomical. Ruby Mountains Heli Ski uses our mountains but they also give back to the community by way of search and rescue etc…A private residence/lodge will never contribute in a way that would equal the damage done by way of traffic, light pollution and visual blight. Our Ruby Mountains need to remain pristine. This person bought the property knowing the beauty and grace of the area and he seeks to begin to destroy it. Please don’t do this.

There are traffic concerns and infrastructure concerns. The peace and quiet of the Spring Creek area in the vicinity of the ski lifts and lodge will be ruined. I keep hearing that we have more than enough water for this, from the Rubies. However, I thought the runoff from the Rubies was used and wonder who will be losing out on their share of water (for grazing by ranches I assume). Please do NOT do this.

The proposed ski resort raises significant concerns for our community, beginning with the access route through Pleasant Valley that connects back around at Spring Creek Elementary. Increased congestion around an elementary school creates unacceptable safety risks for children and families.
The Pleasant Valley turnoff and the SR 227 intersection were engineered for a much lower traffic count. What is NDOT’s clear response on how this project will affect that intersection and the entire Lamoille Highway corridor? The public deserves to know how many additional vehicle trips this resort would create and who will be responsible for the required upgrades and long‑term maintenance.
There is also the tax impact on local residents. Large developments often shift long‑term costs onto the people who already live here. Many families and retirees cannot absorb higher taxes or assessments. Property rights matter, but so does the impact on neighbors who did not choose this project.
Water is an even greater concern. This is a closed, semi‑arid basin with no outside water sources—no Colorado River, no Truckee River—to supplement demand. Our water supply is finite, and current mountain conditions make that clear. Any development must demonstrate how it will avoid depleting the groundwater that existing residents rely on.
This project affects roads, schools, water, and long‑term community stability. These issues must be fully addressed before any approval is considered.

Please don't fence in our solitude and peace by bringing big city resort scrabble to our beautiful Rubies.