After a more than five-hour meeting, La Plata County commissioners on Tuesday denied a proposed temporary camp and entertainment hub for the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally over the Labor Day weekend near Hesperus.
For years, the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally was held in Ignacio during the Labor Day weekend, but after a host of complications and changes in management, the event fell under new ownership in 2017.
The new owners, Trevor Bird, who runs Durango Harley-Davidson, and John Oakes with Freeze Management, submitted a plan to La Plata County for a campground on about 30 acres of a 320-acre property near Hesperus.
Under the proposed plan, the camp would have been located at 10683 County Road 120, about 10 miles southwest of Hesperus, featuring on-scene live music, events, food and alcohol, and up to 150 campsites.
Since the proposal came to light, nearby residents have spoken out in force against the campsite, saying it would be incompatible with the surrounding rural area, citing concerns about noise, traffic and fire danger.
Much of the conversation Tuesday centered on public health orders in place, and whether the proposed campsite would exacerbate issues surrounding the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“With so many other events that have been canceled during the pandemic – events much smaller than the one you’re proposing – I’m trying to figure out why this is a good idea,” said Commissioner Julie Westendorff.
Oakes said the campground would implement, to the best of its ability, social-distancing guidelines and require face coverings. He highlighted that the event would be held outdoors, which he said holds a lower risk for spreading the virus.
While the permit application called for a maximum of 450 guests and 50 staff members, Oakes said event organizers would be compliant with whatever limits were called for by health orders in place at the time.
Under the current Safer at Home guidelines, gatherings are capped at 175 people.
“Why we chose not to cancel, really, is the camping component,” Oakes said. “A few hundred people camping ... is small, and we have plenty of space to do it safely.”
Liane Jollon, executive director of San Juan Basin Public Health, said cases are rising in La Plata County, mostly as a result of tourists and visitors from outside the community spreading the virus.
As a result, intensive care unit beds at hospitals are at risk of being maxed out, she said. And one of the riskiest behaviors to increase infections, Jollon said, is a large gathering.
“The idea is to inhibit spread of infection,” she said. “And the larger the group size is, the larger the potential is for people to have that many close contacts.”
About 25 people spoke during a public comment period.
About half the speakers live near the proposed campground and overwhelmingly opposed the idea of such a large gathering in a rural setting, with all the noise, traffic and fire danger it could bring.
“I think it’s a fine idea for an event, but it’s radically out of character for this area,” said Anthony Braun, who lives on County Road 116.
Sarah Gleason, who lives off County Road 123, said a large gathering such as the one being proposed could cause an uptick in COVID-19 cases.
“I want the economy open, I want things back to normal ... but every other event of this size has been canceled in our community this year due to the COVID-19 risk,” she said. “I don’t know how we can allow this in good conscience.”
Those who voiced support for the campground, for the most part, did not live in the neighborhood. They touted, however, the positive economic impact the motorcycle rally has on La Plata County and the region.
“We need these types of events to support our economy and our businesses and our charities,” said Tim Walsworth, executive director of the Durango Business Improvement District.
Caron Blake, who said she has attended the rally for years, said the campground would impact the neighborhood for only three days.
“These motorcyclists are patriots,” she said. “They are the ones that follow the rules.”
Commissioners praised the rally owners’ attempts to comply with tricky state public health orders. But given neighbors’ concerns with noise, on top of complications with the pandemic, they unanimously denied the project.
“This event is a tradition in our community,” Commissioner Gwen Lachelt said. “But I can’t in good conscience approve this application because of our mandate to protect public health, safety and welfare.”
Oakes said events are still planned around the Four Corners in connection with the rally.
jromeo@durangoherald.com