Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does Stilo envision as its water source?

Tusayan businesses currently get water from local wells, while the Grand Canyon National Park gets water from a pipeline that delivers water from Roaring Springs on the North Rim.

Stilo has never built a well, and has no plans to do so. In fact, it has been engaged with multiple regional stakeholders over the years to play a role in a long-term water solution that will provide water to the residents and millions of visitors to Tusayan without using local groundwater.

The current proposal commits to using no local groundwater for any commercial development. It envisions bringing available water to Tusayan from outside the local watershed by train or truck, which has been a viable method of transport in the region for decades. Stilo will continue to work with the Town of Tusayan and other stakeholders on a long-term water solution that could allow for retiring the current groundwater wells in town forever.

2. What does Stilo want to build?

Stilo has partnered with the Town of Tusayan to address several needs of the community, namely housing and visitor amenities. Nearly all Tusayan residents live in employer-owned housing, which causes quality-of-life issues including a lack upward mobility, family separation and a weakened sense of community. To address the housing crisis, Stilo has donated 40 acres of its land to the Town for housing purposes, and will allow for market-based housing opportunities as well. This will be the first time in history that residents will be able to purchase their own homes.

Stilo also envisions a cultural campus, lodging, RV campsite, retail and neighborhood commercial such as a grocery store, church, child care facility and laundromat. These uses were identified by regional stakeholders as essential and appropriate for Tusayan decades ago, but haven't been built, despite visitation to the Grand Canyon National Park steadily increasing, putting a strain on local resources.

3. Why does the Town and Stilo need a special use permit from the Forest Service?

Stilo and the Town own property at Kotzin Ranch and Ten-X Ranch, which are both located in Tusayan, but require a road and utilities to be built on Kaibab National Forest land in order to build new housing and amenities on the properties.

If the proposal is accepted, then the Forest Service would need to conduct a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review. This extensive review would analyze any potential impacts to the forest and allow multiple opportunities for the public to comment before a final decision is made on granting a special use permit.

4. What is the difference between this proposal and the 2014 application?

In July 2014, the Town of Tusayan submitted a special use permit application to build a road and utilities to Kotzin and Ten-X, which was returned by the Kaibab National Forest in 2016 following NEPA scoping.

This proposal is being submitted by both the Town and Stilo, and addresses several items of concern identified during the previous NEPA scoping, including density and water use. Stilo has committed upfront, that if the proposal is approved, it will consent to a 33% reduction in the authorized density of the two parcels and will agree not to use groundwater for future commercial development purposes. These commitments were made in response to public comments received during the scoping period.

5. How can the public become engaged in this process?

It is important that members of the public participate in any future planning for Tusayan. We will keep you updated on any opportunities to weigh in with Stilo, the Town of Tusayan, and the Forest Service at the appropriate time. Please stay tuned to www.TusayansFuture.com for updates.