There are serious questions about the town board's decision to approve the zoning change of a multifamily residential area on East Grand to commercial. And just as questionable, to hastily approve the development of a 75-unit RV park on the small floodplain on our beautiful Mancos River.
The news of the zoning change didn't reach property owners until a notice went out by mail announcing the board's vote on the RV park on June 25. Despite an outstanding group of people speaking against it, and a petition with about 40 signatures against, the Board decided to approve, even though our mayor and mayor pro tem were absent.
A recently proposed, small Dollar Store on the highway received more attention and regard to consequence than a 75-unit RV park in a residential area in town! How will water and sewer hookups and laundry and shower facilities impact our antiquated water and sewer systems, especially in this serious drought? The argument was made that revenue could allow roads to be paved, but certainly not over what's under them.
Why were opinions of people who don't live in Mancos and won't have their homes and lives forever changed, given equal consideration to people who neighbor this? Those families long invested in their homes or who've recently bought adjacent to that floodplain. Neighbors who risk property value negation, and living with lights, noise and exhaust pollution, day and night. And what about late night and badly behaved Rvers? Was there discussion with the sheriff's office about the possibility of increased crime in our town or who will provide policing? It was argued this will be a "high-end" park. But I know deputies who've worked the Ignacio bike rally who told me it's the professionals, who behave in ways they never would at home, that they arrest the most.
The possible negative impact to the floodplain and its wildlife are enormous. And the traffic logistics, (or even the practicality), of RVs pulling in and out off narrow, old East Grand, are a nightmare waiting to happen. Are they CDOT approved?
Why the rush to make irreversible zoning and development decisions? The Mancos Times printed on July 2, "The developers are optimistic that the park will open in the fall." Those already shocked and dismayed by just learning they'd been quietly rezoned in May are stunned. John Harris, one of the developers along with Dungan McDonald and Bobbie Black, said in that article, "There's no milk without manure." True, a few in town will get "milk," but many more will get "manure," like it or not. Is this what's meant by "the community spirit in Mancos?"
If there's any accountability for town officials to inform property owners or even validate the decisions they make for our lives, our property, and our town, we're not feeling it. Mancos will never be the same quiet, safe place if this goes forth as planned - a block from our park.
Kathryn LeMasters, Ruedi Bear, Marilynn K. Heath, Tim Lawrence, Jan Lawrence, Harry Hill, Mary C. Wilson, Robert W. Wilson, Matt Malmquist, Torrey Baldwin, Brittany Meyer, Joane Trussel, Lyn Patrick, Maurine Davis, Ted R. Lawrence, Semberlyn Crossley, Dustin J. Brown, V. Moore, Dan Thomas, Laura Hughes, George (Eddie) Hershberger, Charles Moore and John A. Schwegman