On June 23, the Pagosa Springs Planning Commission approved a sketch major subdivision application for a development called Pagosa West across the highway from the City Market shopping center.
This approval comes after the commission delayed a decision on the application in March after pushback from the public about the potential development.
An agenda document on the matter describes Pagosa West as “a residential and mixed-use commercial development … situated on a +/- 100-acre site along the south frontage of US Highway 160, between South Pagosa Blvd and Pinon Causeway.”
The applicant proposes “a multi-phased subdivision development with full build-out occurring over the next 10 plus years,” the document states.
Phase one is expected to construct a 44-unit multi-family housing development, which has been significantly scaled down since the last hearing, and a fuel station, the document states.
Planning Manager Owen O’Dell explained that any future types of development in the subdivision would need to go through their own design application processes, and that building design and types of uses are not part of this sketch subdivision application.
Architect Brad Ash, representing the developers, explained that his team made significant changes since the last meeting to address some of the concerns expressed by the neighbors and the general public.
Some of those changes include larger setbacks, the preservation of more trees and the developers’ desire to include a public park, he explained.
During public comment, several residents expressed that the new application is more suitable to them, but most still had problems with the potential development in that area.
Resident Bill Hudson thought that the commission should make the construction of a new uptown park as part of the conditions for approval.
While this was “a much better presentation” than the original application, he suggested, the commission should “require” a park as part of it, and “you could make that decision right now.”
Resident Jane Weitzel gave “kudos for a much better presentation” this time around, but stated that she is still concerned because “there are still so many unknowns” about the development.
Resident Sharon Carter expressed that she is worried about the “destruction of old-growth” forests in the area, and also pushed for an uptown park, “where most of the people in this community live.”
One of the developers, Hiedi Dragoo, promised the audience that the developers, Arena Labs LLC, “are absolutely committed” to constructing a new park as part of the development, but she could not say exactly what kind of park it would be at this stage in the process.
“We fully intend to do some type of park,” she said.
Several of the commenters also expressed concern about the proposal for a fuel station, expressing that the community doesn’t need another gas station in that general vicinity.
Development Director James Dickhoff reminded those concerned about a gas station that the time to oppose it is not during the sketch subdivision phase of the application process, but would come if and when that type of development is actually proposed as a design.
He explained that it would be an extensive process and the public still has plenty of opportunity to shape what type of development goes in there.
Earlier in the meeting, Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation Executive Director Emily Lashbrooke stressed during public comment the need for more workforce housing in the community.
The 44-unit housing complex would be aimed at serving those within 60 and 140 percent of the area’s median income.
derek@pagosasun.com
>