(Photo courtesy of Kaibab National Forest)

Tusayan proposed roadway easements.

Conservation groups are sounding the alarm over an effort to build roads on public land near Grand Canyon National Park. The sucess of those roads could determine the future of several major private developments near the park.

If completed, the routes would link the gateway town of Tusayan to the site of future housing developments. Currently, that private land is only accessible using dirt roads on U.S. Forest Service land. For that reason, Tusayan and Stilo, the Italian development company, are asking the service to approve a permit to widen the roads and put in utility lines.

Sandy Bahr, director of Grand Canyon chapter of the Sierra Club, said the roads would "allow for major destruction."

 "Most people, when they think of the Grand Canyon, they don't think of having massive malls and development," said Bahr. "Overall, this would bring about 2,100 housing units and three million square feet of retail space, so a huge development.” she said.

Bahr said this development would endanger the water supply and alter the character of the park.

But Will Wright, town manager for Tusayan, said this criticism is premature and no development will happen if it hurts the canyon.

“We don't know how they'll provide water. But for any development or subdivision, they [developers] are going to have to bring forward assurance for how they’ll provide water," said Wright. "The town officials aren’t going to do anything that we consider to be a detriment or cause any damage to the Grand Canyon. We exist because of the Grand Canyon. ”

The proposed developments also include affordable housing for local residents, which, Wright said, is sorely need. The majority of residents in Tusayan find housing through their employer.

The forest service is now accepting public input on the road project. A decision is not expected for at least a year.