Minturn voters deciding ski resort’s fate

MINTURN, Colo. ” If waving at cars and holding up signs are any indication ” plenty of voters will be saying “yes” to a developer’s plans to build a private ski resort near Minturn.

The “yes” votes definitely had a more visual presence on Main Street Minturn Tuesday as residents cast their votes in a special election deciding whether the Ginn Development Company’s plans to build 1,700 homes and condominiums, a ski area and a golf course around Battle Mountain should be a part of Minturn, a small town to the southwest of Vail.

Residents are voting on 11 questions ” nine which call for including parts of Ginn’s development in the town, and two authorizing the mayor to sign the annexation agreement and water service agreement with Ginn.

Small white and green signs that read, “Vote yes on all 11” lined the streets, and supporters waved at cars.

If people are voting “no,” they’re not making a big show of it.

“It will be a good thing for the town ” and we’ll keep some control,” said resident Samuel Meyer, who is supporting the Ginn Development.

His wife, Lynn Meyer, agrees.

“It’s a no brainer. Something’s going to happen there no matter what, and we’ll get some good things out of this,” Lynn Meyer said. “People are already complaining about traffic. Of course there will be more traffic, but what wouldn’t bring in more traffic? We’ll have to live with it.”

Casey Bingham says most people he knows will be voting yes, including himself.

“I guess I’m glad we’re voting, but most people I know have supported it from the beginning,” Bingham said.

mterrell@vaildaily.com.