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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The state-created foundation that operates the Olympics facilities near Park City is seeking legislation to smooth the way for a luxury hotel to be build at the Utah Olympic Park, possibly atop the ski jumps.
The Utah Athletic Foundation, created by lawmakers but privately funded with an $80 million endowment from the 2002 Games, approached a Chicago firm, Terrace Development, about building a hotel on about 30 acres of the park, foundation President John Bennion said.
The developers had proposed putting a 330-room hotel in the adjacent Sun Peak housing development, but area residents have protested that project.
Bennion said the developers like the land atop the ski jumps, though there could be zoning issues.
Before the talks go further, the foundation wants to clarify whether the Legislature and the governor must both sign off on the project and other details, Bennion said.
Rep. Dave Ure, R-Kamas, plans to sponsor legislation to make it clear the hotel could be built. Ure said he's interested in helping because the foundation has talked about coming back to the state for additional funds someday.
He said the legislative staff is studying old agreements associated with the land use to determine just what lawmakers need to do. That may include finding a way to hand over the profits from the land sale or lease to the private foundation.
The Olympic facilities run by the foundation, which include the speedskating oval in Kearns, continue to operate in the red, and Bennion said the hotel could help reduce the deficit.
He estimated the deal could generate several million dollars for the park, still shy of the $20 million to $30 million in additional revenue needed to bring the facilities out of the red.
Fraser Bullock, who heads the foundation board and helped run the Olympic Organizing Committee, said commercial development at the park would end with the hotel. "It's a single development," he said.
Gov. Jon Huntsman was not aware of the proposal or the pending legislation, and would have to study both, said Mike Mowers, his deputy chief of staff.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
