HomeMy WebLinkAboutPEC100014 Narrative March 2011
March 11, 2011
To: Planning and Environmental Commission
Re: Lionshead Miniature Golf
Vail Resorts is proposing to install a high quality professionally designed 9 hole miniature golf course in the Lionshead base area, which we feel will provide an increased level of
guest experience as well as needed family entertainment to the Summer Vail product.
The course would be located in the area just east of the Bottom of Chair 8 and to the south of the new Lionshead Utility Building (restroom building). Vail Resorts refers to this area
as the Children’s Teaching Yard and is the site where a previous miniature golf course existed prior to Arrabelle construction. This location is just close enough to the activity hub
to offer guest convenience, but just remote enough to not impact surrounding homeowners or guest accommodations.
If approved, installation would begin in early May 2011 with a scheduled completion before the July 4th weekend 2011. Subsequent operating seasons would span Memorial Day weekend through
late September. Our anticipated hours of operation would be 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Items of note:
The proposed course does include a water feature, which will recirculate water and not be connected to a potable source.
Our intention would be to operate the course into the evening hours, which will require some lighting. We have proposed low level landscape lighting, which fits well within Town Code
and has virtually no impact to a dark skies environment and turned off when the course closes.
The proposed course would have holes on either side of the primary east / west pedestrian and bike pathway. We are proposing to fence both sides of the pathway for the length of the
course and offer very specific golfer crossings. Designated golfer crossing coupled with signage will be used to limit negative interactions on the pathway. Consideration can also
be given to designating the pathway as a bicycle “dismount” zone to increase guest safety.
There are no parking impacts or vehicular traffic issues associated with the project. Guest will use the Lionshead parking structure as they do now when visiting other attractions located
within this pedestrian only zone.
The course will be constructed in a “low profile” fashion with some removable features. This will allow us to continue to use the area for Ski School operations in the winter with minimal
impacts.
The course is designed by Harris Miniature Golf Courses, Inc. They are very well respected in their field and have done numerous installations throughout the
United States. They would also be contracted to install our proposed course. Their credentials may be viewed at www.harrisminigolf.com.
The course will be fully landscaped. This will offer“softness” to the area, provide additional color and tie the area in general into the rest of our summer gathering space.
Overall it is our belief that the proposed miniature golf course enhances the Lionshead base area by providing additional family activity, a sense of completion to the area and a continued
commitment to improve the guest experience.
A larger version of this golf course was granted a Conditional Use Permit through the PEC in April 2010 (PEC100014) which included several condition of approval. Those conditions would
be adhered to should the Conditional Use Permit be granted for this version of the course.
Thank you for your consideration.