Plans for upgrade approved at Mount Rose Ski Tahoe

RENO -- The Washoe County Board of Adjustment has approved plans by Mount Rose Ski Tahoe to upgrade the resort southwest of Reno with a mountaintop restaurant, faster chairlifts and a second snow-making pond.

The board gave its unanimous support Thursday, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.

Richard Cieri, a Board of Adjustment member, said the projects covered under the special-use permit "are pretty-well-thought-out, good for the community and good for their business."

Paul Senft, Mount Rose manager, expects work to begin next year and continue over 15 years at a cost of $23.5 million. The board required a major component to be built every five years to keep the permit alive.

The planning board's approval is final unless an appeal is filed with the County Commission.

A separate project to expand the resort by 99 acres has been accepted for review by the U.S. Forest Service, Senft said, adding that the project will be the subject of an intensive environmental study that will take at least two years to complete.