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City Council OKs purchase of new snow-storage site

$374,000 parcel could also be a trailhead
A city of Durango dump truck unloads snow in January 2013 at Cundiff Park between the Durango BMX track and the Animas River Trail. A newly purchased site above Durango Tech Center could open up Cundiff Park for development.

The city may store its snow above the Durango Tech Center this winter instead of dumping it in Cundiff Park near the Animas River.

The Durango City Council unanimously agreed late Tuesday to buy 3.35 acres of open space near the end of Tech Center Drive for about $374,000.

This comes as a relief to Donna Nazario, property manager and resident at Rivergate Lofts, because the snow was dumped directly across the river from her home in the middle of the night. “The lights would go on, and then the tailgates would clang. ... It was pretty horrific,” she said.

At least a third of the units in the 82-unit complex were affected by the activity, she said. She also was concerned because the icy mountain, black with grit from the roads, melted directly into the river. So she was grateful the city has an alternative plan for the snow.

“We are thrilled,” she said.

An acre of the land will be needed to store mountains of dirty snow scraped off city streets in winter. But part of the space could be developed with a trailhead because it is adjacent to city open space and trails, according to city documentation.

City staff members will ensure steps are taken to direct runoff into stormwater infrastructure below the site, Community Development Director Kevin Hall said.

“It will solve our snow-storage problem and take pressure off the Animas River,” Councilor Sweetie Marbury said.

Construction of a driveway entrance to prepare the site for use in the winter could happen in November, Hall said.

The purchase of the site will allow the 17-acre Cundiff Park behind Big 5 Sporting Goods to be developed.

City officials propose spending $450,000 on designs for the park and early phases of construction next year.

Public meetings will be held to determine how Cundiff Park should be developed.

mshinn@durangoherald.com

Sep 12, 2016
New home for snow storage?


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