Mountain Creek PILOT presentation and vote postponed

VERNON — The Mountain Creek PILOT presentation to the Vernon Town Council originally scheduled for the Aug. 11 meeting has been postponed. An Aug. 18 work session is scheduled for 7 p.m. due to the absence of Mountain Creek CEO Andrew Mulvihill.

His absence was cited by Mountain Creek’s General Council, John Fetterly, as being due to personal reasons. While official action can take place at the Aug. 18 work session, it is open to the public.

The resort, which currently owns a parcel of 25 acres has proposed construction of an indoor water park with hotel, conference center and indoor action sports center. The project is slated to cost $140 million and Mountain Creek is looking to the township for a 30 year, 50 percent tax abatement in order to bridge a $28 million gap in capital funding.

Should the PILOT be granted, Mountain Creek representatives claim that the tax revenue generated would be around $1.6 million, far exceeding the current property tax rate of just over $15,000 per year.

Tax abatement
Additionally, an ordinance was proposed by Council President Brian Lynch to introduce eligibility for a 30 year tax abatement for redevelopment projects within certain areas, which if passed would seemingly benefit and pave a clearer path to Mountain Creek’s proposal approval. This has been debated by Lynch.

“This is not exclusive to Mountain Creek.” Lynch stated, “It’s a road map for any new development, it’s more of a check list for what you would have to do to get a tax abatement.”

However, a motion to postpone the vote on the suggested ordinance on eligibility for the 30 year tax exemption and abatement was called by Council Member Dan Kadish and was seconded by Council Member Jean Murphy. In a 3 to 2 majority vote by Council Members Kadish, Murphy and Wetzel, the vote was postponed and scheduled for public hearing on Aug. 25.