Sugarbush seeks covered magic carpet on 'Easy Does It' trail; board deems application complete

Sugarbush representatives told the Fayston Development Review Board that application #3925 would replace a surface lift with a covered magic carpet on the Easy Does It trail and require regrading of about 1.7 acres. "We are seeking to replace a surface lift with a magic carpet lift," said Joel Rhodes, speaking for Sugarbush planning staff; Ky Koitzsch moved to find the application complete and the board approved the motion unanimously.

The project team said the new carpet will terminate below the bottom terminal of the GMX lift on an approximately 10% slope and will be about 250 feet long. Installation is planned for spring, with Mountain Works (PA) performing the installation while Sugarbush crews handle site groundwork and staging from the parking lot. The team reported a Whorled Milkweed (S2) population on the property but stated it lies outside the proposed grading area. They also said the work will trigger stormwater construction permitting and be folded into other mountain stormwater projects such that this site will be covered by a moderate risk permit requiring weekly inspections and inspections within 24 hours of qualifying rain events.

Sugarbush said the covered canopy will improve safety and support expanded beginner terrain and Vermont Adaptive programming, and that minimal tree cutting is planned. Board members asked about regrading locations and soil sources; the team said fill will come from on-site material and an existing parking-lot pile. The board closed the hearings for both this application and the Rutledge subdivision and listed deliberation on the agenda.