Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct information about how the new gondola will be financed, the number and type of units in the development plan and Alterra’s relationship to Winter Park Resort.

The Winter Park Town Council approved an ordinance rezoning 165 acres of Winter Park Mountain as a mixed-use resort development at a meeting on Tuesday, June 3. Council members also approved a resolution forming a regional transit authority, which will finance and operate new public transit infrastructure connecting the town and the resort.

The development milestones are part of a $2 billion master plan by the resort to transform the mountain into one of the top ski areas in the country. The approvals ended a year of negotiations between the town of Winter Park and the resort’s parent company, Alterra Mountain Company.

Plans call for the buildout of hotels, office space, public roads, trails, open space, and other amenities. The rezoned area plans to include up to 2,950 residential and hotel units, and up to 250,000 square feet of commercial space. The final number of units may be less than 2,950, depending on final development and site plans, Winter Park spokesperson Jen Miller said.

Following the rezoning ordinance, council members approved the formation of a Regional Infrastructure Cooperation Agreement (RICA) involving the Town of Winter Park, Alterra Mountain Company, and the Metro districts associated with Winter Park Resort and Copper Creek Village. The RICA will also pursue alternative funding for the construction, which may involve asking for funding from the state during the legislative session. 

The new gondola will be financed through a combination of private contributions and public financing mechanisms associated with the development, Miller said.

The gondola will connect the town of Winter Park to the mountain and the resort’s base area. The agreement also includes a new ski-back trail, which will further connect the town to the resort and expand transit options throughout the area.

Continued from their meeting on May 20, council members addressed concerns about workforce housing in the rezoning plans. They voted to pass a resolution approving a development agreement with Alterra Mountain Company and the Winter Park Recreation Association after committing to three parcels of land set aside for affordable housing for resort employees. 

In other business, the council approved special event permits for Winter Park’s annual Blues From The Top music festival which will be held in the Rendezvous Event Center at Hideaway Park on June 28 and 29.

Additionally, the council approved a permit for summer events at Headwaters Ecology and Community Center. The center says it plans to host church services, community fundraisers, concerts, and weddings in the months of June-September. The council plans to convene again on June 17 at 5:30 p.m.

For more information about the rezoning plans or the infrastructure changes, access the full meeting agenda and minutes at WPGov.com.