May 17, 2002 By Joyce Koballa 5 min read

SALTLICK TWP. – Voters will decide whether or not to keep the township “dry” or grant the sale of liquor licenses to resort facilities through a referendum that will appear on the ballot in Tuesday’s primary election. The referendum will be included on ballots in all three of the township’s precincts. Voters will be asked to vote on the question: “Do you favor the granting of liquor licenses to resort facilities for the sale of liquor in the township of Saltlick?”

Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Champion is proposing the sale of liquor in a portion of the township owned by the business that it plans to expand with the construction of a wedding chapel and reception hall in the Lake Tahoe area.

Another part of land that Seven Springs plans to develop is located in Middle Creek Township, where the same referendum is on Tuesday’s ballot.

According to Bob Duppstadt, Seven Springs public relations manager, the resort has been forced to turn down more than 100 requests per year from people who want to hold their wedding ceremonies at the resort because there is no specific facility to accommodate them.

“We’re busting at the seams on winter weekends in order to serve the people we have here,” said Duppstadt.

Duppstadt added that while the resort is looking to expand into Saltlick and Middle Creek townships, it also owns land in neighboring Jefferson and Donegal townships, as well as having its own borough.

Duppstadt said the expansion in the two townships would also result in about 1,000 new jobs.

With the referendum, Scott Bender, Seven Springs president, said the resort will be able to expand in that portion of the township that is part of 2,429 acres that is affected by the referendum.

If residents vote in favor of the referendum, Seven Springs will be given the option to sell alcoholic beverages in the township as a resort facility under House Bill No. 1591, signed into law on Feb. 21.

According to the legislation, “‘Resort facilities’ shall mean any hotel, restaurant or club located on property owned by or contiguous to a convention center that offers skiing, golf, hiking and horseback riding.”

The legislation further states that, “The convention center itself must be located on property at least 2,000 acres in size. The property must be located in more than one municipality or county.”

Laurie Nicholson, director of the Fayette County Election Bureau, said residents filed a petition with well above the required 86 signatures in March to put the referendum on the ballot. The referendum was approved that same month by the bureau.

In order to be placed on the ballot, Nicholson said residents interested in filing a petition must first seek legal advice from an attorney who then drafts the petition. The petition is then circulated through the municipality and turned into the election bureau, which approves the document in order for it to be placed on the ballot, in this case the referendum.

“This could be a pretty hot issue,” said Michael Macko, solicitor for the township. Macko said the township’s three supervisors have not taken a stance on the issue and remain neutral. “They’re going to let the voters decide,” added Macko.

Although Saltlick is classified as a “dry” township, Macko drafted a handout provided to residents who attended two meetings conducted by Bender earlier this month informing residents of the resort’s intentions in regard to the sale of alcohol.

With that information at hand, Macko stated in the handout that, “If Seven Springs would want to annex the land that it owns in Saltlick Township to Seven Springs Borough, such annexation would require a referendum in both municipalities to approve such annexation.”

The referendum that will appear on Tuesday’s ballot, said Macko, will not apply to land acquired by Seven Springs after the effective date of the referendum. Macko added that if the resort seeks approval to sell alcoholic and malt beverages after it acquires land, a referendum on a subsequent year’s primary ballot is required.

Duppstadt said Seven Springs unveiled a $230 million master plan last June that is still in the planning stage. “We have no blue print right now,” said Duppstadt. The plan includes $80 million for resort expansion and $150 million to develop additional residential real estate.

Under the plan, Duppstadt said resort officials are looking to develop about 750 condominiums and town houses adding to the 950 Seven Springs has now.

With that development, Bender said the township could receive $21,000 more in real estate taxes based on the township’s millage and every $10 million in additional real estate invested by Seven Springs. “The master plan is calling for $150 million for the real estate… but I can’t be certain at this point how many units will be in each of those two townships,” said Bender.

Bender added that the revenue would also benefit Connellsville Area School District with an additional $450,000 and Fayette County with $120,000.

With Tuesday the deciding factor for Seven Springs, Bender said in the event the referendum does not receive a majority vote in one of the townships that the resort will have to take another look at its plans.

“The one (s) that approve would probably end up with the greater development,” said Bender.