Vail housing project blocked in 6 to 1 vote

Bighorn sheep are more important than another housing project in Vail, Colorado. The controversial “high density” employee housing project proposed by Vail Resorts was blocked earlier this month by the Vail Town Council in a 6 to 1 vote, SnowBrains reports. 

This means that all permits have been suspended and Vail Resorts cannot move forward on the project unless a new proposal includes protection of the Gore Range bighorn sheep herd. As GOHUNT previously reported, the housing complex would have consisted of 61 residential units on a plot of land between I-70 and the Gore Range – also known as “critical winter grazing ground” for the Gore Range bighorn sheep herd.

The town council supported the project in 2019, but newer council members voted “to halt development” in April, according to SnowBrains. The housing complex was part of Vail Resort’s plan to increase affordable employee housing by 10% because of the rising real estate costs in the area. While a positive for employees, based upon an assessment conducted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the development would impact the iconic Gore Range bighorn sheep herd, which was already struggling. 

Stay tuned to GOHUNT for further updates.