Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) just announced an ambitious plan to build a new green resort development in North America. Ever Vail will be a $1B, 9.5 acre, multi-use resort village on the current site known as West Lionshead. If approved for development, Ever Vail will be the largest LEED-certified project for resort use in North America and one of the earliest developments to come under the LEED Neighborhood Development certification program.

In all, the total development will be about one million square feet, with 150-250 whole ownership condominium units, 75-125 fractional ownership condominium units, a 100,000 sf hotel, 100,000-150,000 sf of commercial retail, office, and restaurant space, and 100,000 sf mountain operations facility.

Importantly, Ever Vail plans are still being finalized and haven't been submitted to the Town of Vail for approval. Once approved, sales will start in about 2009, so this is very much a prospective project. Vail Resorts has partnered with Callison to help design and plan the development. Callison Principal Steve Harmon remarked on the partnership: "Callison believes sustainable design is good business and is honored to partner with Vail Resorts on leading the effort to create an innovative, smart-growth destination that uses land more responsibly, reduces resource consumption and minimizes sprawl."

As our writers here on Green Options have reported, environmentalism and climate change is always on the mind of winter resort operators, so seeking LEED certification is another way for resorts to consider the impact of their operations. The LEED for Neighborhood Development certification program (actually still in the pilot program stage) was officially inaugurated on February 1, 2007. It's a rating system established by the U.S. Green Building Council that integrates principles of smart growth, urbanism, and green building on a neighborhood level. Vail Resorts plans also to develop all of the buildings at Ever Vail to LEED criteria.

Image Credit: Vail.