Saltlick votes to remain ‘dry’
SALTLICK TWP. – A referendum to grant the sale of liquor licenses to resort facilities failed to receive a majority vote in Tuesday’s primary election, enabling the township to maintain its “dry” status while putting a damper on proposed development plans by Seven Springs Mountain Resort. The question of whether or not voters favored the granting of liquor licenses to resort facilities in the township was answered by a vote of 333-278.
With the township’s three precincts reporting, unofficial results from the Fayette County Election Bureau revealed the referendum was rejected by 169 votes in Indian Head with 111 in favor. In Melcroft, the vote was 107 in favor and 84 against, while in White, the vote was 80 against and 60 in favor.
The election bureau approved a petition it received in March containing well above the 86 signatures required in order to put the referendum on the ballot.
Rick Gales, township supervisor, said he has mixed feelings about the referendum.
“I can’t say one way or the other how I feel about it,” said Gales, adding that one positive factor would be the amount of tax base that the development would bring into the township.
Without the referendum, the Champion-based resort is now forced to look at alternate plans to expand in a portion of the township where the business was hoping to construct a wedding chapel and reception hall in the Lake Taho area that would include the sale of liquor.
Scott Bender, Seven Springs president, was out of town and could not be reached for comment.
In an earlier telephone conversation, Bender said that if the referendum did not receive enough support from voters that it could still appear on the ballot in the next election under legislation signed into law in February.
According to House Bill No. 1519, “an election may be held on the question of granting liquor licenses to resort facilities in municipalities that do not already allow the retail sale of liquor at the primary election immediately following the effective date of this subsections, and at each subsequent primary election.”
Bob Duppstadt, Seven Springs public relations manager, said the resort is in dire need of a wedding chapel and reception hall but has had to turn down more than 100 requests per year because the resort doesn’t have that type of facility.
“Obviously, we’re looking to expand the food and beverage type services to accommodate this development and the additional guests and residents we would have,” said Duppstadt.
While one side of Lake Taho is located in Seven Springs Borough, Duppstadt said the other side the resort is proposing to expand is located in Saltlick Township. Duppstadt added that such an expansion would create 1,000 new jobs.
The expansion of Lake Taho is part of a $230 million master plan the resort unveiled last June. Although Duppstadt said the plan is “basically conceptual” at this point, experts are continuing to review the types of additional facilities the resort would mostly benefit from. “We’re looking at possibly adding a water park or if we need more skiing facilities or conventional facilities,” added Duppstadt.
The plan also includes the development of 750 more condominiums and townhouses that would add to the 950 that Seven Springs already has.
Bender said if voters decided/ in favor of the referendum, the resort’s master plan would have enabled the township to recoup $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.
A referendum to grant resort facilities the sale of liquor licenses also appeared on the ballot in Middle Creek Township where Seven Springs is proposing to develop a portion of land it owns.