The resort - it already has six chairlifts - wants to add a seventh to open 250 acres of skiing terrain; almost half of it would be targeted for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders.

Although a date for starting up the new lift has not been established, the lift path and 75 percent of the new trails already are cleared.

Brian Head Resort hopes the so-called Alpine Creek development will translate into longer stays for visitors and provide high-paying jobs in Iron County, according to general manager Henry Hornberger.

"Historically, this will be Brian Head Resort's most significant expansion, with detachable high-speed lifts and additional snow-making."

The project is the first phase in a 10-year plan to be built over 1,740 acres of resort-owned, pristine mountain property. Brian Head, 12 miles east of Parowan, also would boast an 18-hole golf course, in addition to more than 1,300 new dwelling units, Hornberger said

A special-service district would be created to handle sewage, water, security, fire, snow removal and other services - with no increased tax costs for county residents, he said.

"Like anything of this size, the project will be developed in parts and parcels."

Hornberger points out that 42 percent of Brian Head's visitors come from Las Vegas, with about 23 percent from Southern California, and increasing numbers from St. George and Phoenix. The decision to move ahead was influenced by a report from the research firm of Peterson Economics, which gave developers what they consider a positive analysis that details future demand.

Hornberger said the October 2004 analysis shows that, at build-out, the new resort community would generate $11.8 million in tax revenue for Iron County - with the majority going to schools.

Last month, the resort signed a development agreement with the county, giving Brian Head Resort seven years to start construction. The county retains final approval on all elements of the development.

"The agreement means we can now go after institutional financing," Hornberger said.

County Commission Chairman Dennis Stowell said the proposed project would be a good thing - if it is controlled and done right.

"Basically, the county and planning commissions support it," Stowell said.

The $11.8 million in property-tax revenue Iron County would receive is based on the resort's projections, according to Stowell. That would be more than half the $21.9 million the county received from property owners in 2004.

"That [$11.8 million] is pretty optimistic," Stowell said.

Before any construction can begin, Stowell said the resort needs to secure more water and have a treatment plan in place.

"Those are the hot-button issues," the commission chairman said.

Hornberger said the resort has rights to 293 acre-feet of water, but so far, it has not submitted a plan to the state for how sewage would be treated.

Scott Hacking, southwest regional engineer with the state Department of Environmental Quality, said the resort must conform with the state Division of Water Quality's highest standards.

"Any discharge of treated water to surface waters will be prohibited, and groundwater has to be protected," he said.

Technology, such as the "membrane bio-reactor" recently installed by the town of Fairview, would protect groundwater, he said. "The technology is there, but it is expensive."

Town Manager Bryce Haderlie said Brian Head supports the project - once some recommendations were included in the development agreement.

Those suggestions dealt with keeping an access road into the development from circumventing the existing resort and ensuring that the town get its share of revenue from lift ticket sales.

Terrence Keyes, the county's economic development director, said Alpine Creek will be an economic boost.

"During the development and construction phase, the number of new jobs created would be significant for the county and the community of Brian Head," Keyes told commissioners.

He said affluent people, with a lot of disposable income, would be buying permanent or second homes there.

"They will have special buying needs, so you could see boutiques and other high-end shops opening in Parowan, Paragonah and Cedar City," Keyes predicted. "Everyone could benefit from this development."

mhavnes@sltrib.com