On Nov. 5, the Pagosa Springs Town Council approved the first reading of an ordinance approving a contract to purchase riverfront property located at 1040 E. U.S. 160.
The four-acre parcel is the former location of Bob’s L.P. and is currently being leased by Basin Coop.
The town intends to expand boater access to the San Juan River by purchasing the property, with an Executive Summary Plan stating that the acquisition would “secure public boater access, enhance recreational safety, provide a means for riverwalk trail connectivity to the east, and promote sustainable growth for the recreational economy of Pagosa Springs.”
Phase one of the plan includes an environmental assessment, property cleanup and site improvement, boat ramp installation, and parking improvements, with the future possibility of constructing additional amenities, such as restrooms, a handicap-accessible fishing pier, shade structures, paved parking and a Riverwalk trailhead.
Town Development Director James Dickhoff has stated that public sentiment has shown a strong “community desire to see more public river access.”
Dickhoff has also pointed to the 2012 River Corridor Master Plan and the 2022 East End Multimodal Plan, which both identify this particular property as “the last missing link” for expanding public river access.
At a Sept. 3 meeting, he described the chance for the town to acquire the property as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to link the town’s river access, particularly for larger boats, from the East End to the access point downstream at Yamaguchi Park.
At that meeting, the council approved a motion “directing staff to draft an offer to purchase the property … with a purchase closing date in April 2025 contingent upon awarded grants and other potential contingencies.”
At the Nov. 5 meeting, Dickhoff identified the property’s appraisal value at $740,000, down from a previous assessment, with the hope to fund the purchase through potential grants.
The town applied for a $420,000 Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant, with award notifications expected by mid-December, and also applied for a $462,098 federal Land, Water, Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant from, with award notifications expected by March 2025.
Dickhoff said, “We do have a presentation with GOCO on Thursday for the grant that we’ve applied for,” adding that “it’s always a good sign to get to present the grant application before the review board.”
He added that, if the GOCO grant is awarded, it would bolster the town’s chances of being awarded the federal LWCF grant.
Match funding would come from both the town and Archuleta County’s Conservation Trust funds, which would be $50,000 and $30,000, respectively, for a total budget for the purchase standing at $947,315, if the grants are awarded.
Dickhoff explained that Basin Coop has a current lease on the property and also has a first right of refusal for purchasing the parcel, but noted that the Coop’s board has signaled that they are not interested in purchasing the property.
He added that the “finer details” about how long the company would be able to continue to lease and stay on the property would be negotiated at a future date.
“They do have an interest to stay a little while,” possibly through 2025, he said.
Council member Brooks Lindner wondered if there are any “obstacles” to building on the property, with Dickhoff saying any new buildings on the property would need to abide by the current town building and land use development codes.
However, he added that one of the buildings currently standing has a restroom and is hooked up to water and sewer, suggesting that the building could be utilized.
When a motion was made to approve the ordinance, authorizing a contract to purchase the property, it was passed unanimously by the council.
Council members Madeline Bergon and Mat deGraaf were absent from the meeting.
The second reading of the ordinance, the passage of which is necessary to authorize the contract, will be on Nov. 21 at the next council meeting.
