Your trusted source for community news
Representatives of the proposed Alpine-X ski resort returned to speak with Carrollton City Council, during an Oct. 13 work session, to present more findings and information in their ongoing talks with the city.
Alpine-X claims it could generate $225 million in value, including $51 million in hotel occupancy taxes, over 30 years. The company said it is not seeking to establish new taxes, but to generate revenues themselves in the proposed District 35E.
Initial site preparation for the 70-acre entertainment district and snowdome would cost between $35 million and $40 million which the company plans to fund using private capital with the possibility of later reimbursement through bonds.
Their proposal also includes a hotel occupancy tax rebate intended to promote the broader entertainment district.
Alpine-X’s presentation estimated approximately $51 million in hotel occupancy taxes over 30 years. Its broader $225 million projection also includes potential state tax rebates and revenue from operations at a proposed city-owned event center.
The event center would occupy about 5.4 acres, according to the presentation, and its development depends on approval through a state funding program. Alpine-X said the site plan could be revised if the funding is not approved.
The update also covered engineering and site planning. Alpine-X has commissioned Kimley-Horn to evaluate wetlands, stormwater management, drainage, utilities and other environmental and infrastructure concerns. During the presentation, project representatives said Alpine-X could be built without hauling in any additional dirt and while preserving key habitats.
Alpine-X attraction design executive Tom Scheffer said there are many misconceptions surrounding indoor ski facilities. Among these, are their impacts on traffic, their electricity usage and water usage.
Because the water is “atomized” in the process of becoming snow, recreational usage outside the frosty sections of Alpine-X could use as much as 40 times more gallons per square foot of water. Data centers, which Carrollton has several of, use nearly 50 times more energy per square foot, he said.
“This is just a big fridge,” Scheffer said. “To make our facility cold and keep it cold, we use around the same amount of energy per square foot as a supermarket.
“Our water usage can be run off the tap on the outside of your house, literally.”
Scheffer said the company has conducted a traffic study which shows a minimal impact on the area. He expects around 4,000 visitors to Alpine-X per day, which he said is less than what you might expect for an 87,000 square foot supermarket. Instead of a venue like a concert hall where attendees all leave at once, Alpine-X customers would come and go throughout a 14-hour day.
The District 35E Committee, which is composed of city council members, recommended that future engineering studies be paid for by the developer and that the project cause no off-site impacts on city property. The committee also recommended that Carrollton hire an independent consultant to review the project.
Local News Matters.
