Let's keep the Ruby Mountains as undeveloped as possible!
An out of area landowner has applied for a zoning change from Open Space District (OS) to an Agricultural-Recreational District (A), for the 2296.22-acre parcel owned by Ruby Mountain Ranch Holdings, LLC, adjacent to the Spring Creek Campground.

Application 24-2000-0010, Modern Land and Development, LLC

This parcel extends to 9,455 feet in elevation, virtually to the top of the face of the Rubies.

Reason

Why are we against this?

1. While this parcel may be private land, it is also a bold face of the Ruby Mountains. Allowing the zoning change for future development would not only change the aesthetics, peacefulness of the area, and dark space of the Rubies but also displace the wildlife that currently calls it home.
2. That parcel is part of a critical migration route that thousands of Mule Deer use each year.
3. On the back side of the ridge line, you can find Mountain Goats, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Himalayan Snowcock, Pika, and many other species.
4. In a state with little water and struggling habitat, developing such a critical area to wildlife would be detrimental on a biological and ecological basis.
5. A zone change allowing future development would set a standard for neighboring parcels to follow, turning our Ruby Mountains into a smaller version of the Wasatch Front in Salt Lake City.

More details to consider – Where do we draw the line?

1. The developer hired by the landowner, has offered the idea of using the parcel for a recreational area, including 1200-acre ski resort.
2. It takes about 200,000 gallons of water to make one foot of snow on one acre of ski slope. That’s 40 million gallons of water (737 ac-ft of water) per year to make 1 foot of snow per acre over the 1,200 acres of ski-able area. Where is that water coming from?
3. How much vegetation will be removed to accommodate a ski slope, resort, and access road.
4. The impact a development like this will have on our roads, traffic, taxes, and emergency services.
5. Soils for both Mountain and Valley parcels are rated as “limited to very limited” for Septic Systems and road development due to Dust, Frost heave, Shrink and Swell, causing negative effects for air quality and maintenance issues into the future.
6. The access may still be closed to the public that can't afford to pay for it.
7. An actual plan is not required for the zoning change to pass.

No amount of positive economic impact could replace the lost resource. Land is one of the few things that we don’t get any more of. Once we develop this one, there won’t be another mountain to turn to.

For more information contact: springcreekopenspaceadvocates@gmail.com

Thank you for your time and support!