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Pitkin County OKs minor amendment for Aspen Mountain Nel‑Bell lift alignment
Summary
Pitkin County commissioners approved a single‑reading resolution amending the Aspen Mountain Ski Area master plan to consolidate two older lifts into a new high‑speed detachable quad and to replace an existing snow‑making line; the project still needs city and U.S. Forest Service approvals before construction can proceed.
Pitkin County commissioners on Sept. 10 adopted a resolution approving a minor amendment to the 2018 Aspen Mountain Ski Area master plan and the activity‑envelope and site plan review needed to replace the Little Nell and Bell Mountain lifts with a single new, high‑speed detachable quad and to replace an existing snowmaking line.
The county’s senior planner, Leslie Lamont, told the board staff recommended approval after a site review and referrals from the Colorado Geological Survey and Aspen Fire Protection District. “The proposed hood and top of the lift and the lift operator’s shack will be lower in height than the existing terminus of the Bell Mountain Chair,” Lamont said, adding staff found “no significant increase in visibility as seen from the corridors designated in our scenic review section of the code.”
Mac Keeling, representing Aspen Skiing Company, said the company settled on the Nel‑Bell alignment after operating Hero’s chair for multiple seasons and evaluating circulation across the mountain. “We think that this project is going to be an incredible experience for the guest,” Keeling said, and that the new lift would cut the two‑lift ride time from about 21 minutes to about eight minutes while increasing reliability and capacity.
The approval adopted conditions that customarily apply to ski‑area projects in the county, including requiring tree‑removal permits, a construction management plan and the company’s commitments on nighttime lighting and debris‑flow studies in mapped alluvial‑fan or avalanche hazard areas. The county also inserted a finding noting Aspen Skiing Company’s stated commitment to continue supporting community events that use the Little Nell ski run, such as torchlight descents and local ski races.
County staff and the applicant said additional approvals are required before construction may begin: the City of Aspen must complete its project review for work at the base (the new bottom terminal is within city limits) and the U.S. Forest Service must finish a NEPA review for work on federal land. Keeling said the Forest Service had collected field data and expected draft NEPA findings in early 2026. The ski company said it intends to build in 2026 if the remaining approvals are obtained.
The board approved the resolution as amended in a single reading. The county record will require the lift design to meet Colorado’s passenger tramway safety standards and to use non‑reflective materials on visible equipment consistent with county scenic standards.
If finalized, the project will remove two 1980s‑era lifts, install a modern top‑drive terminal with a small service/maintenance area and a vault toilet, replace about 100–300 feet of degraded snowmaking pipe within an existing service road alignment and use helicopter delivery and limited spur access for tower installation. The applicant said any temporary trail or road closures during construction would be limited and that detours for hikers would be posted.
The county’s approval does not authorize on‑the‑ground work; it sets the land‑use approvals that must be followed by the city and federal permitting processes before construction may proceed.
