Owners of the Mountain Laurel Resort brought a set of grand plans to October’s Kidder Township Planning Commission meeting.

These plans show the resort upgrading to offer extensive indoor sports options, including two sports domes to be built on the property just west of the hotel, plus a village of cabins spread through the hardwood forest at the south of the hotel, around the pond and west again to meet the road to the sports domes.

Another phase of the upgrade, according to the engineers who presented the concept, is to replace the aging two-story wing of the resort with its 90 rooms with a three-story tower with 80 modern rooms. That would free up part of the property close to the building for more parking, and to locate one of the sports domes closer by.

Presenting these plans for an early look by members of the Planning Commission was a way to get input from everyone present, and as a way to share the vision the new ownership of the resort has for its future.

With the cabins and possible crowds during sports tournaments, it was suggested by the township engineer and some board members that the plan will need a second entrance to the property. The addition of hydrants along the new roads was recommended.

Some extra parking in the cabins area was suggested, especially near the units with multiple bedrooms, by adding overflow lots.

The presenting team listened and will add to their plans, then return in 2021 with revisions, and likely some paperwork ahead of the first phase of the upgrade.