Snowbird, UT – A mountain coaster could soon augment Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort’s year-round offerings, according to plans given preliminary approval Wednesday by the Salt Lake County Planning Commission.nCommissioners reviewed Snowbird’s plans that call for 3,000 feet of track spanning Little Cottonwood Road, designated a Utah Scenic Byway, from the lower slopes of Mount Superior below the Hilton slide path to an area adjacent to the ski resort’s Chickadee run. They gave unanimous preliminary approval to the proposal.

The ride would be similar to the Mountain Coaster at Park City Mountain Resort and at three other ski areas across the U.S.

Environmental groups, including Save Our Canyons voiced opposition to the plans, which call for construction on privately owned land. With the Planning Commission approval granted Wednesday, Snowbird must now seek approval for a building permit, from Salt Lake City Public Utilities as the coaster would be built in the Little Cottonwood Canyon watershed, and from the Utah Department of Transportation for the bridge over Little Cottonwood Canyon Road before construction could begin.