Killington Resort Parking Project A250

CourtVermont Superior Court
DecidedAugust 5, 2014
Docket173-12-13 Vtec
StatusPublished

This text of Killington Resort Parking Project A250 (Killington Resort Parking Project A250) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Vermont Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Killington Resort Parking Project A250, (Vt. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION Vermont Unit Docket No. 173-12-13 Vtec

Killington Resort Parking Project Act 250 Amend ENTRY ORDER

Decision on Motion to Deny Party Status

In this matter, Stephen Durkee, Mountainside Properties, Inc., Mountainside Development, Inc., Fireside Properties, LLC, and Killington Village Properties, Inc. (collectively, “Appellants”) appeal the October 7, 2013 Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Land Use Permit (#1R0981) issued by the District # 1 Environmental Commission (the “Commission”), as well as the Commission’s November 20, 2013 Altered Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Land Use Permit (#1R0981 (Altered)) regarding a resort parking project proposed by Killington/Pico Ski Resort Partners, LLC (“Applicant”).1 Applicant proposes to construct a day- skier parking lot for 1,276 vehicles to replace existing day-skier parking areas, realign a portion of Killington Road, reconfigure the Killington Grand Hotel parking lot, and construct a stormwater basin and associated utilities at its Act 250-permitted facility in Killington, Vermont (the “Parking Project”). The Parking Project proposal coincides with a master plan application by SP Land Company, LLC for substantial new construction at the resort which is the subject of a separate appeal before this Court, Docket No. 147-10-13 Vtec.2 Now pending before the Court is Applicant’s motion to deny Appellants party status under certain Act 250 criteria. Applicant is represented by Christopher D. Roy, Esq., and Appellants are represented by Nathan Stearns, Esq.

1 MTB Killington, LLC, AMSC Killington, LLC, and SP II Resort, LLC filed the initial application for the resort parking project, but subsequently transferred ownership to Killington/Pico Ski Resort Partners, LLC. Any further reference to Applicant shall apply to the current owner and applicant, Killington/Pico Ski Resort Partners, LLC. 2 The Court notes that although the Commission consolidated its review of the Parking Project and the master plan application, the parties have agreed that Docket Nos. 173-12-13 Vtec and 147-10-13 Vtec should proceed on parallel but separate tracks and will therefore not be consolidated. See Pre-Trial Scheduling Order (Feb. 18, 2014).

1 Factual Background

For the sole purpose of putting the pending motion into context, the Court recites the following facts, which it understands to be undisputed unless otherwise noted: 1. On February 28, 2012, MTB Killington, LLC, AMSC Killington, LLC, and SP II Resort, LLC filed application #1R0981 with the Commission seeking approval of a new day-skier parking lot for 1,276 vehicles,3 realignment of a portion of Killington Road, reconfiguration of the Killington Grand Hotel parking lot, and associated stormwater treatment at its Act 250-permitted facility in Killington, Vermont (the “Parking Project”). In the course of the Commission proceedings, project ownership was transferred to the current owner/Applicant, Killington/Pico Ski Resort Partners, LLC. 2. Appellant Stephen Durkee owns properties at 2134 Killington Road and 2023 Killington Road in Killington, Vermont. The property at 2134 Killington Road includes a single residence, and the property at 2023 Killington Road includes a market/office building and associated parking. 3. Mr. Durkee owns a controlling interest in Appellants Mountainside Properties, Inc., Mountainside Development, Inc., Fireside Properties, LLC, and Killington Village Properties, Inc. (collectively, the “Durkee Entities”). 4. Appellant Mountainside Properties, Inc. (“MPI”) owns properties located on East Mountain Road and on U.S. Route 4 in Killington, Vermont. Both MPI properties are undeveloped. 5. Appellant Mountainside Development, Inc. (“MDI”) owns property at Mountainside Drive in Killington, Vermont. The MDI property is an undeveloped single residential lot within a subdivision. 6. Appellant Fireside Properties, Inc. (“Fireside”) owns property at 1128 Killington Road in Killington, Vermont. The Fireside property includes a hunting lodge and associated cabins. 7. Appellant Killington Village Properties, Inc. (“KVP”) owns commercial property at 923 Killington Road in Killington, Vermont.

3 Applicant asserts that the new parking area is intended to replace existing parking areas and therefore will not constitute a source of new traffic. We understand that evidence will be presented by all parties on that assertion.

2 8. Mr. Durkee resides at 337 Old Elbow Road in Mendon, Vermont. Mr. Durkee regularly travels Killington Road in the area of the Parking Project in order to access the properties owned by the Durkee Entities. 9. Appellants secured final party status from the Commission as summarized below:

Appellants’ Final Party Status, as Granted by the Commission Appellant Property Criteria Steve Durkee 2134 Killington Road 5, 9(K), 10 Steve Durkee 2023 Killington Road 1(B), 1(D), 1(E), 4, 5, 9(K), 10 Mountainside Properties, Inc. East Mountain Road 5, 8, 9(K), 10 Mountainside Properties, Inc. U.S. Route 4 5, 9(K), 10 Mountainside Development, Inc. Mountainside Drive 5, 8, 9(K), 10 Fireside Properties, LLC 1128 Killington Road 5, 9(K), 10 Killington Village Properties, Inc. 923 Killington Road 5, 9(K), 10

Discussion Appellants’ January 13, 2014 Statement of Questions raises issues regarding Act 250 Criteria 1(E) (Streams), 5 (Traffic), 8 (Aesthetics), 9(K) (Public Investment), and 10 (Regional Plan). In the pending motion, Applicant asks the Court to limit the party status of Mr. Durkee and the Durkee Entities as follows: Applicant’s Assertion of Appellants’ Proper Party Status Appellant Property Criteria Steve Durkee 2134 Killington Road 10 Steve Durkee 2023 Killington Road 1(E), 10 Mountainside Properties, Inc. East Mountain Road 8, 10 Mountainside Properties, Inc. U.S. Route 4 10 Mountainside Development, Inc. Mountainside Drive 10 Fireside Properties, LLC 1128 Killington Road 10 Killington Village Properties, Inc. 923 Killington Road 10

Thus, Applicant seeks to eliminate each Appellant’s party status under Criteria 5 and 9(K) and to eliminate party status under Criterion 8 for all Appellants other than MPI. In support of its motion, Applicant submitted the affidavit of Jeffrey Temple, Applicant’s Director of Mountain Operations/Facilities Maintenance at the Killington Resort. Applicant also attached a site plan showing the areas involved in constructing the Parking Project, a Google Earth aerial image noting the locations of properties owned by Mr. Durkee and the Durkee Entities, and four Google street view images purportedly facing toward the Parking Project from the respective Durkee properties. 3 Appellants oppose the motion with Mr. Durkee’s affidavit, a list of Appellants’ properties, and a property ownership map. In their opposition, Appellants assert that they are entitled to party status in this appeal as follows: Appellants’ Party Status as Argued by Appellants Appellant Property Criteria Steve Durkee 2134 Killington Road 1(E), 5, 8, 9(K), 10 2023 Killington Road Mountainside Properties, Inc. East Mountain Road 5, 8, 9(K), 10 U.S. Route 4 Mountainside Development, Inc. Mountainside Drive 5, 8, 9(K), 10 Fireside Properties, LLC 1128 Killington Road 5, 8, 9(K), 10 Killington Village Properties, Inc. 923 Killington Road 5, 8, 9(K), 10

I. Standard of Review Although not specifically framed as such, we view Applicant’s request as a motion to dismiss particular Appellants as to certain criteria. V.R.E.C.P. 5(d)(2); see In re Granville Mfg. Co., Inc., No. 2-1-11 Vtec, slip op. at 5 (Vt. Super. Ct. Envtl. Div. July 1, 2011) (Durkin, J.) (noting that party status is a term of art indicating that a party is entitled to appeal a land use determination). The Court treats party status determinations as a preliminary issue of standing. See In re Champlain Parkway Act 250 Permit, No. 68-5-12 Vtec, slip op.

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Killington Resort Parking Project A250, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/killington-resort-parking-project-a250-vtsuperct-2014.