Mt. Spokane ski area gets first construction permit for expansion

Spokane County issued a grading permit on Friday for work to begin on an expansion of Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park.

The project will add 80 acres of groomed trails and another chairlift.

“Work will begin immediately, with a goal of being open for next season,” said a news release from Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park.

The Washington Parks and Recreation Commission voted in late 2014 to allow the ski resort to expand.

Earlier this month, the Spokane Tribe and several environmental groups appealed to Gov. Jay Inslee to stop the project.

Mount Spokane 2000, which operates the ski resort, is the largest concessionaire in the state parks system. Jim Meyer is president of the nonprofit’s board of directors. He’s the husband of Betsy Cowles, chairwoman of Cowles Co., which owns The Spokesman-Review.