Yet another organization has labeled Stilo’s plans for thousands of new homes and three million square feet of commercial space as a threat to the Grand Canyon.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation placed the Grand Canyon on its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

The source of the threat is encroaching development, including Stilo’s development.

The group Earth Justice has reminded the Kaibab National Forest it will make the threat a reality if it approves the Town of Tusayan’s pending easement application.

The letter states in part:

“This is the second “Most Endangered” list to which Grand Canyon has been added in large part due to Stilo’s proposed development in the last few months; American Rivers designated the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon as America’s Most Endangered River in April. These listings demonstrate the breadth of concern with the risk the easements and the development they are meant to facilitate pose to Grand Canyon. The easements and development raise not only an ecological issue, but affect the diverse values for which Americans cherish Grand Canyon. The Trust’s listing provides further evidence that the Forest Service must reject Tusayan’s requested easements, or, barring outright rejection, must prepare a comprehensive environmental impact statement.”

Meanwhile the Trust itself has also submitted a letter opposing the easement and Stilo’s plan. It’s letter reads in part:

“We are deeply concerned about the proposed impacts that granting of the Special Use Authorization would have on cultural resources in the affected area. Given the extraordinary nature of the development which these roads would enable, if approved, we believe that an Environmental Impact Statement should be prepared to analyze impacts beyond the immediate footprint of the rights-of-way, and to fully vet and consider alternatives, including no action.”

None of these concerns has changed the minds of four of the five members of the Tusayan Town Council who support the plan, the exception if Bill Fitzgerald. In fact, the only entity that has formally supported the Stilo plan is the Council. Not one government entity aside from the town thinks the Stilo plan should move forward.