The local Development Review Board in Stowe has rejected a proposal from Stowe Mountain Resort to build a new parking lot, citing concerns over the new lot’s impact on the character of the area.
But the ownership company says it plans to appeal to a state board.
Traffic congestion and parking on Stowe Mountain Road has been a growing issue as skiing has become more and more popular. In early 2020, the Vermont Agency of Transportation was actively working with the town of Stowe and the resort to come up with solutions, according to Joe Segale, the agency’s policy, planning and research director.
But when the pandemic hit, it became a low priority, as traffic congestion decreased significantly. Now, with congestion back to normal, if not even busier than before, it has become a priority once again.
The Agency of Transportation initially signed off on the resort’s proposal, which Segale said is standard practice since the mountain road is a state highway. Segale emphasized the agency was only confirming that the proposal was safe and would not cause increased traffic, but the agency does not consider environmental factors or impact on the area’s character, which is left up to individual town development boards.
The Stowe board’s review spanned nearly a year. In the end, concerns over the lot’s impact on the character of the area won out.
“The area surrounding the Project is dominated by low density single-family residential dwellings and undeveloped lots, open space, and recreational lands,” the board wrote in its Dec. 28 decision, also noting that there is significant mature forest cover surrounding the proposed lot. “Large parking areas containing acres of impervious surfaces and associated lighting … do not fit the setting or context of the area and are not compatible with the surrounding lands.”
Adam White, senior manager of communications for the northeast region at Vail Mountain Resorts, which operates Stowe Mountain Resort, said he is disappointed that the parking lot proposal has been shot down.
“The proposed lot would provide an additional parking option, in a key location, for guests and help to reduce traffic during peak times,” White said in a written statement. “Vail has decided to appeal the DRB’s determination to Vermont Superior Court, Environmental Division,” he wrote.
The process of appealing the ruling will take time. In the meantime, the Agency of Transportation is examining other short-term interventions to congestion.
“When we have a roadway that’s close to capacity, any little delay can cause backups — like snow on the road. So we’ve been talking about coordinating with snow removal and communicating with drivers early about conditions,” White said.
He also said things like incentivizing skiers to travel at off-peak hours — perhaps by ramping up the après-ski scene — and dynamic messaging signs with updates on traffic would be ways to mitigate congestion this season.
Correction: The Agency of Transportation was misidentified in an earlier version of this story.
