For the past few years, David McHenry has volunteered countless hours of his time writing letters and attending meetings in an effort to protect the integrity of Durango’s established neighborhoods. He realized that the City Council’s original proposal to allow 500 alley dwelling units within two of Durango’s oldest neighborhoods was extremely short-sighted. He was concerned about the impact on the quality of life of the people who live in those neighborhoods: issues such as overcrowding, traffic, parking, noise, privacy and trash. He further understood that the City Council needed to consider the impact on our infrastructure and other city services, snow removal, emergency response and safety issues such as people walking down dark, unlit alleys at night.
David was instrumental in helping to convince several of the City Council members to vote for the rule that one of the units must be owner-occupied. This will limit ownership of homes with an ADU to people who live in the neighborhood and thus have an interest in maintaining its character. The policy will also help to create housing opportunities for local citizens instead of outside investors. Additionally, David successfully worked to limit the number of vacation rentals allowed in these neighborhoods to help preserve the limited housing stock for people who live and work in Durango. And he tried to stop the City Council’s approval of the variance for the enormous hotel complex that is planned on East Second Avenue. The council-approved lifting the height restriction over the strenuous objections of the people whose quality of life will be greatly affected by a five-story hotel looming over their homes.
Throughout the process of adopting the city’s new Land Use and Development Code, David has been a thoughtful, tireless voice for logical growth. When elected to the City Council, he will continue to provide steady, responsible leadership for smart development – not over-development.
Please join me and others who care about our community in voting for David McHenry for City Council. It’s time for a change.
Bruce Garlick
Durango
