Judge grants Vail immediate possession of Vail Resorts’ owned site in East Vail

On Friday, June 30, Eagle County District Court Chief Judge Paul Dunkelman issued an order ruling in favor of the town of Vail in its immediate possession hearing against Vail Resorts.

The judge’s order grants the town’s motion for immediate possession for the East Vail site, determining that the town had the authority to condemn the site, that the town is taking the site for a public use and purpose and that there is a necessity for the town to acquire the property.

In his order, Dunkelman writes that this case has been “pitted as the critical need for workforce housing versus the critical need to protect wildlife habitat,” with both parties acknowledging the importance of both needs as well as their obligation to address these needs.

“Despite these acknowledgments, the Town and Vail Resorts have been unable to work together to jointly focus on addressing these needs and meeting these obligations, at least as to the Subject Property,” Dunkelman wrote. “Instead of meeting their responsibilities and addressing workforce housing and protection of wildlife habitat in a responsible fashion, the Town and Vail Resorts have chosen to defer this decision to the Court. While this is their right, it is also a failure on the part of the Town and Vail Resorts.”