Various interests have lined up to ask the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to deny water permits for Tusayan Ventures, which wants to build a major commercial, residential and resort complex in Tusayan near the Grand Canyon’s South Rim.
Italian company Stilo Group won zoning they needed to build proposes to build some 2,400 residential units, several hotels, about 3 million square feet of commercial space, a dude ranch and a spa.
The Arizona Daily Sun reported the developer asked for extensions with the ACC earlier this month, stating it has not yet secured access through the Kaibab National Forest to some 1,500 acres, and it is “working diligently to find an alternative to groundwater to address the issues raised by the stakeholders in the area.”
Coconino County Supervisor Carl Taylor is opposed to the project unless it can show it won’t draw down the local water table.
The Grand Canyon National Park’s hydrologist also described his concerns to the Daily Star for the state.
“Effects of groundwater withdrawal may not be seen for many years at some springs, and effects may remain or intensify for years during pumping and perhaps remain permanently once pumping ceases,” he said.
Opposition also comes from the Havasupai Tribe, the superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park and the Sierra Club.
An attorney for the developers did not respond to a phone message on Friday.
