The Pagosa Springs Town Council and Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) discussed the status of a potential road access closure to Country Center Drive off of North Pagosa Boulevard during a joint work session held on Monday, Sept. 28.
Town Manager David Harris provided an update on the matter, explaining that he spoke with representatives of Kroger Real Estate and that a verbal agreement had been reached with Pagosa Realty LLC that “allows City Market to make initial repairs to Country Center Drive ... and undertake the maintenance operations moving forward with costs split between City Market and Pagosa Country Center LLC.”
Harris continued, referencing the “message” from Kroger Real Estate explaining that the current access issues are on Pagosa Realty property and City Market does not have rights to make repairs over the property.
“This new agreement will allow City Market to make repairs and maintain the drive aisle in perpetuity at the cost of City Market and Pagosa Country Center Drive LLC,” Harris said.
He also explained that the legal documents are drafted and with the parties for review.
Mayor Shari Pierce asked about a possible timeline for the repairs, with Harris explaining that they’re waiting on the parties to review the documents.
Pierce commented that she appreciates “some progress” being made on the matter.
Commissioner Warren Brown explained at the previous town and county joint work session that the potential posting of a closure notice was discussed with the purpose being to protect motorists from vehicle or personal damage.
Brown also explained that he received a letter from the owner of Rosie’s Pizzeria on the matter, which he then read.
The letter expresses frustration about the county’s proposal to close the access road, stating that it would hurt small business owners.
The letter also claims that the county has the “means and equipment to fix this 20-foot section with patches easily.”
Brown commented that there are “valid concerns” in the letter, while also stating that the town and county have been talking about this matter as a “collective” since the beginning of the year.
Brown also acknowledged the suggestion that the town or county could repair the road, stating, “That’s not going to happen.”
He explained that the road is private property, “and I think when the county decides they’re going to take a particular piece of private property and repair it, we’re setting bad precedence.”
Brown commented that the information shared by Harris is “promising to hear … but we’ve heard this kind of talk before, and I have to tell you, frankly, I would still like to see the county move forward with posting a sign that notifies in 30 days that road access will be shut off until there is actual work and maintenance and potholes filled with a semipermanent substance, not just gravel.”
Brown added that his desire to post the closure notice is not for punishment purposes, but to make the property owners responsible for fixing the road “come to the table.”
He also commented that the information shared by Harris is the “first real response” the community has gotten.
Brown explained that the posted notice would state the reasons for the closure being public safety, hazard mitigation, and emergency road repairs and maintenance.
“I don’t really want to do this … but here we are,” Brown said.
Pierce asked Brown if the BoCC had voted on posting the notice, with Brown explaining that the matter was discussed in a work session and staff was directed to look into what was needed to post the closure notice.
During a regular meeting held by the BoCC on Sept. 1, the board unanimously approved an agenda item authorizing the posting of a 30-day notice of closure for the access road.
In a later interview with Brown, he explained that the BoCC vote on Sept. 1 authorized staff to post the closure notice, but that it had not actually been posted yet, as staff researched what all needed to be posted.
He explained that the BoCC would likely vote on posting the notice at its Oct. 20 regular meeting, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in the commissioner’s room at 398 Lewis St.
“My hope is they will repair those potholes and we won’t have to post it,” he said.
During the joint work session, council member Leonard Martinez commented that the town and county have been appealing to the “civic side” of the matter with the access road, suggesting to make it a “business matter.”
“We just haven’t hit the right levels,” he said, suggesting that if the matter is escalated to a higher level it might get taken care of sooner.
“At some level these are pennies,” he said, adding that the town and county need to “keep an eye on it.”
clayton@pagosasun.com
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