The Forest Service says a new 272-acre development
near the south entrance of the Grand Canyon can control growth near
the park. Critics, including some environmentalists, are not
convinced.
“They’re creating mass development
… ext to one of our crown jewels,” says Sharon Galbreath of the
Sierra Club’s southwest office.
Canyon Forest
Village, which got the Forest Service’s final approval Aug. 6, is
the result of years of collaboration between the developer, the
National Park Service, the Forest Service, Arizona Indian tribes
and conservation groups (HCN, 3/2/98). By giving up a dozen
scattered inholdings in the Coconino National Forest, developer Tom
De Paolo will get public land near the unincorporated town of
Tusayan. On this parcel he plans to build employee housing and
hotels and restaurants for the 7 million tourists expected to visit
the park annually by 2015.
Environmentalists
initially balked at De Paolo’s plan to tap into scarce groundwater
supplies. But when De Paolo agreed to transport water from the
Colorado River and include energy efficient systems and a recycling
program, he won over many critics.
“This
development protects the environment to the maximum extent
possible, given development,” says Brad Ack of the Grand Canyon
Trust, adding that development on the South Rim is
inevitable.
The Sierra Club and the Grand Canyon
Improvement Association, a coalition of Tusayan businesses that
have long fought the development, say they are likely to appeal the
project.
*Tim Westby
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Grand Canyon development sparks debate.
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