During a meeting on Tuesday, July 15, Winter Park town council members approved the first final development plan for the Winter Park Resort Mountain Base area. The plan is part of a long-term redevelopment project from Alterra Mountain Company and Winter Park Recreational Association.

The town council also approved several resolutions involving funding and planning for local sustainability initiatives to move towards carbon neutrality.

The first final development plan for the Winter Park Resort Mountain base area involves 15 acres located within the Resort Village and Welcome Village neighborhoods. The purpose of the plan is to prepare these two sites for development, including planning for higher-density overnight accommodations with up to 400 multifamily units and 35,000 square feet of commercial and service area.

Once construction begins, the development will create both temporary construction jobs and permanent positions, while also preserving almost four acres of open space for recreational opportunities.

Council members approved the preliminary development plan on June 3, which laid out the rezoning details for all 177 acres of the Winter Park base area. Each phase of the project will require subsequent approval moving forward.

The council also approved resolutions focusing on advancing sustainability efforts. All three resolutions support the town’s efforts to explore renewable energy infrastructure.

The first resolution contracts Lotus Engineering to review Winter Park’s existing climate and energy data, identify gaps and update the town’s Climate Action Plan, and recommend actions for emissions reduction.

The second resolution authorizes a proposal from The GreyEdge Group LLC, an engineering and consulting firm, for a geothermal district heating feasibility study in Winter Park. The firm will evaluate whether local geothermal resources can be harnessed to support a district heating system and become a long-term clean energy solution for the community.

The third resolution authorizes the town of Winter Park to submit a letter of intent to apply for funding through the Colorado Energy Office. This begins the grant application process to provide financial support for local transportation and sustainability efforts.

In other business, the council approved three special event permit applications. The first permit was granted to Plein Air @ Altitude, which is an annual fine art event with a cocktail reception and silent auction on August 30 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event will be located at the Rendezvous Event Center at Hideaway Park.

The second permit went to 5Point Adventure Film Festival, a film festival fundraiser for Grand County’s youth climbing team. The fundraiser will be held on August 2 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The third permit went to First Fridays, which is a series of events promoting community art on the first Friday of select months in 2025 and 2026. The events will be held at Uptripping in Cooper Creek Square.

For more information about the development plans or the sustainability initiatives, access the full meeting agenda and minutes at WPGov.com.